Games (13 page)

“Brian and I are friends.”

Alysse stepped closer and pointed her finger at
Shannon. “You listen to me. I wasn’t born yesterday. I’ve lived on the streets longer than you are old. I’ve seen and played every type of game there is. You can take your little manipulative seductive game back down the hill away from my son.” Alysse stormed away.

Shannon
’s head hung low. “Brian, I’m sorry, I didn’t know she was your mother. I just assumed you would have a maid with you living in this exclusive neighborhood.”

He ignored her explanation. “
Shannon, I didn’t give you my address. How did you find out where I live?”

“I got your address from work and I shouldn’t have come over here without calling first.”

“You’re right, you shouldn’t have come here uninvited nor should you have used your job to gain my personal information.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow at church,” she said and walked back to her car with her shoulders slumped.

***

Wrapping his arms around Julia, Reggie kissed her neck. “Good morning, beautiful.”

“Is it still morning?” Julia rolled over and snuggled against him.

“It’s after ten.”

Julia stretched. “I better get up before Josiah destroys the house.” She tried to sit up, but Reggie held her down.

“He’s fine. Did you forget that Marcus and Justin are here?”

She relaxed. “I sure did.”

He pressed her closer to him. “Let me see what else I can make you forget.”

The intercom sounded, it was her nephew Justin. “Do you guys want some breakfast? We have waffles, eggs and bacon.”

“Maybe later,” Reggie answered then turned the speaker off and directed his attention back to Julia just as the telephone rang.

Reggie sighed. “Don’t move.” He kissed her again before answering the phone.

“Good morning, Pennington residence”

“What’s so good about it?” Alysse snapped.

“I should have let the call go to voicemail,” he mumbled, but said out loud, “Is something wrong, Alysse?”

“Something is very wrong. Reggie, did you know there’s a gold digger chasing after Brian?”

Reggie rubbed his head. “Are you referring to Shannon?”

At the mention of
Shannon’s name, Julia sat straight up.

“Yes I am and I don’t like her. Do you know that little trifling wanna-be had the nerve to talk to me like I was a child and then called me a maid?”

Reggie covered his mouth so Alysse couldn’t hear him laugh. “Alysse, I hope you’re not calling me from jail. Please don’t tell me you’ve been arrested for assault and battery?”

“What happened?” Julia asked.

“Reginald Pennington, stop laughing. I am not in the mood for your tired jokes,” she yelled. “Anyway, I didn’t beat her down
this
time.”

Reggie breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank God.”

“But I promise to the next time she gets out of line,” Alysse added.

“What happened?” Julia asked again.

“Alysse, where did you see Shannon?” Reggie asked.

“She showed up on Brian’s doorstep this morning, looking like both Delilah and Jezebel.”

It was Reggie’s turn to sit straight up. “What? Shannon was at the house?”

“What?” Julia started to get out of bed.

“Reggie, let me talk to Julia. We’re not about to have this foolishness. If I have to move back to Oakland, I will. I’ve invested too much into my son for this mess!”

Reggie shook his head and handed the phone to Julia.

“Shannon was at the house?” Julia went straight to the point.

“Girl
, yes, and let me tell you what she did.” Alysse gave Julia the highlights from her unexpected visitor. “How long have y’all known about this?”

“Brian introduced her to us at church a few weeks ago and lately she’s been coming to Bible Study.”  Julia didn’t mention the disastrous Sunday dinner.

“What is she doing at church? That devil ain’t trying to find Jesus?”

“I think you’re right about that.” Julia laughed. “Alysse
, I don’t think we have anything to worry about. Brian’s not interested in her.”

Alysse would not be pacified. “I know he’s not interested in her, because I raised him better than that. I know he’s in love with Shay, but that won’t stop ms. thang from trying something. I can see the dollar signs all in her eyes. She sees Brian living in this house on this hill and she knows he’s going to be a lawyer. That girl is going to try to trap my baby.”

“I bet she’s rolling her neck and wagging her finger,” Julia whispered to Reggie. “Now you know, Julia, I am not about to have that!”

“I know
, Alysse, neither are we,” Julia stated calmly.

Alysse continued to rant. “You know that boy is not too old or too big for me to beat some sense into him.”

“I know, Alysse.”

Julia watched Reggie leave their bed and walk into the bathroom. A moment later she heard the shower. “Alysse, I’ll call you later and we can talk about this some more, but I need to take care of something first.” Julia hung up the phone and headed to the shower.

During Sunday service
Shannon performed a good show by participating in Praise & Worship and by taking notes during Reggie’s sermon.  To her surprise, she actually found what he was saying interesting.  Today’s topic was “Unconditional Love”, taken from First Corinthians Chapter 13.

“Love is patient, love is kind. Love bears all things and endures all things. Love never fails,” Pastor Pennington read.

Shannon’s mind drifted back to her childhood and the horrific trauma she’d endured. “Love isn’t for everybody,” she said snidely.

From the dais Julia watched Shannon the entire service. She didn’t want to admit it, but she felt that God was leading her to Shannon. “I really could do without the drama,” was what Julia told the Lord in her early-morning prayer time, but like always the Lord didn’t change His mind.

Shannon started in Brian’s direction after service, but Alysse gave her a warning glare causing
Shannon to quietly retreat.  She was about to turn and leave when Julia called after her.

“Shannon, can I speak to you for a moment?”

Reggie’s sermon had left
Shannon feeling a little vulnerable and she wasn’t in the mood for another argument. “What is it?” she asked defensively.

“I know
something is bothering you, but I’m not going to ask what, or who it is. Shannon, it’s no secret that you and I got off on the wrong foot. But if you’ll allow me, I’d like to help you.”

Shannon
smacked her lips. “
You
want to help me?”

“Yes, Shannon. I want to save you from experiencing more embarrassing moments like the one you had yesterday morning and when you were at my house for dinner.”

Shannon rolled her neck. “And just how do you plan to do that?”

Julia ignored the attitude.
“By giving you a few simple rules on life.”

Shannon
rolled her eyes again and smacked her lips. “What rules?”

“For starters, don’t try to make yourself look good at the expense of making someone else look bad. It will only backfire.”

Shannon remained quiet, and Julia continued. “Don’t ever prejudge someone based on where they live or the job they hold. If Alysse were in fact a maid, that wouldn’t have given you the right to be rude to her. Shannon, never think you’re better than another person. And Shannon, if you want to land a good man—other than Brian of course—never show up at his house uninvited. It shows desperation. Don’t force your way in; wait until you’re invited. You’ll get to stay longer.”

Shannon
’s face twisted. Julia had given her more instructions on life in two minutes, than her own mother had done her entire childhood. Shannon flung her blonde curls over her shoulder and smirked. “Anything else, Mrs. Pennington?”

Julia saw right through
Shannon’s hard shell, the young woman really didn’t know as much as she portrayed. “No, I think I’ve give you enough to think about. If there’s anything I can help you with Shannon, don’t hesitate to ask.”

Shannon
turned and walked out of the sanctuary. Outside in her car she pulled out her notepad and wrote down everything Julia had said to her. By Shannon’s standards, Julia had everything Shannon wanted: money, a big house, her choice of luxury cars and not to mention that five-carat rock on her left ring finger. Shannon thought she’d learn all she could from her before she broke her daughter’s heart by marrying Brian.

On Christmas Eve Shay found herself sitting anxiously on her bed, staring at the small parcel box. Several presents already surrounded her small optic Christmas tree, but this white box with black lettering was special. The return address and handwriting belonged to Brian. They hadn’t talked since Thanksgiving
day and her feelings for him had not changed. With trembling fingers she finally opened the little cardboard box and read the short enclosed note.

You gave me your heart, now I’m giving you mine.

Inside of the white velvet box was a flat silver heart on a silver chain-linked bracelet. Rhythmically, her hand covered the cavity that enclosed her own heart as she read the endearing inscription.

B&S

4Ever

Tears flooded her eyes as she ran her finger over the letters. Her nerves instantly settled and involuntarily she picked up the phone to call the man she loved, when the man she dated knocked on her front door. Reluctantly, Shay ran into the living room and answered the door. As she did so, she slipped the new chain around her wrist.

“Jason
, have a seat, I’ll be right back.” She let Jason in then returned to her bedroom and closed the door. She dialed the number and paced the length of her queen-sized bed. He answered on the second ring.

“Hey
, you.”

She could tell he was smiling from the jovialness of his voice. “Hello, Brian, I got your present today.”

“I hope you like it. Although I know you do from the sound of your joyous voice.”

“It’s perfect,” she paused, “I’m wearing it now.”

Silence remained until Brian cleared his throat. “Shay, I was thinking about coming to see you next week.”

“Really?” She’d yearned to see him since their brief conversation when she’d recklessly admitted her feelings.

Shay’s ecstatic response pleased him. “Good. I thought I’d fly in on Tuesday and stay until Friday.”

“That’s great,”
was what she was about to say when the sound of Jason turning on the television quickly brought her back to reality. Brian couldn’t come to Cambridge. Not because of Jason, she’d dismiss him in a second for Brian. Truth was, Shay didn’t trust herself alone with Brian for three days. She hadn’t worked on her spiritual relationship with God and she knew if Brian were in Cambridge, there was nothing to prevent her from sleeping with him again. If that happens, she may never find her way back to God. She had to think of a reason to keep Brian in California without telling him the real motive. She walked over to the window and looked out at the white powdery streets and found the answer.

“Brian, on second thought, that might not be a good idea. We’re experiencing a very heavy snow season and I would feel better if you didn’t fly in bad weather.” That was the truth.

“I didn’t think about that,” he said with disappointment that touched her. “I just wanted to see you.”

Shay blushed. “I want to see you too.”

“I miss you. I miss our conversations. I miss your company. I just miss us.”

“I miss being with you, too, but I will come home during
spring break for Marcus’s CD recording.”

“But that’s four months away,” he whined.

“That’s the best I can do. Maybe in the meantime we could—you know—communicate more often.” It amazed Shay how easily her heart controlled her mind where Brian was concerned.

“I’d like that. I’m not the same without you,” Brian admitted to her. “Shay,” he broke the silence that followed.

“Yes, Brian.”

“You now hold my heart in your hands as well. Take care of it.”

“Take care of mine, she whispered back.” If only their relationship wasn’t so complicated.

“Always, Shay, always.”

Long after Shay hung up the phone a big smile creased her face. She wasn’t quite sure what he meant by asking her to take care of his heart, but she was elated he hadn’t taken what she’d told him about giving her heart to him, for naught.

She returned to the living room to find Jason watching a basketball game. In her elation, she’d nearly forgotten about him.

“Is everything all right?” Jason asked.

“Everything is just fine.” Shay sat on the couch next to him, still smiling.