God's Gift to Women (22 page)

“Come on, baby, just close your eyes and pretend like we’re at the Fifty-Yard Line on the south side of Chicago.”

Terri went the wrong way and stepped on Julian’s foot. When he tried to spin her around, she smacked him in the face. Everybody covered their mouth to keep from laughing, except Mitch.

“I think you better stop before you get a knot upside your head,” Mitch laughed. “These country girls can cook, but they can’t step worth shit.”

“Who you callin’ country?” Terri had her hands on her hips. “I’m callin’
you
country, Ms. Green Acres!”

“I beg your pardon. I’ve been to Chicago many times and those black folks are country with a capital K, with their lime green suits, white shoes in December, and those ghetto-fabulous hairstyles. Hell, half the south side is from Mississippi!”

They all broke out laughing. Even Mitch had to give her a high five for that comeback.

After they wiped the tears from their eyes, Terri suddenly excused herself to go to the bathroom.

“You all right, baby?” Julian asked. “You don’t look so good.”

“I’ll be fine. I think it’s something I ate.” Terri rushed to the bathroom holding her stomach. “Samantha, honey, could you please bring me my purse?”

“Okay, Terri.”

“Maybe it’s that time of the month,” Eddie said. “Man, shut up and come take this ass whippin’ on the card table. Who wants to play bid whist?”

“I’m in!” Denise yelled.

“Me, too,” Janet said.

Julian got a brand-new deck out of the kitchen drawer and marked the jokers—one with a large
B
and the other with an
L,
for little.

“Okay, rookies, who wants to play with the master?” Julian boasted.

Janet sat opposite him at the dining room table.

“Wise choice, Ms. Jackson,” Julian said to her. “Now, let me tell you my house rules. Don’t ever cut me out when I’m running a Boston. Don’t lead without purpose. And rule number three, no swearing at the table unless you hear me swear first. Got that, damnit?” Julian laughed.

“Okay, I can see right now I’m gonna need a drink before I start playing with you, ’cause you’re already getting on my nerves.”

“That’s a good idea,” Mitch said as he reached under the counter. He pulled out a bottle of tequila, the brand with the worm inside it.

“What the hell is that?”

“This is the good stuff from Juarez, Mexico. Don’t be
scurred.
”

Betty sliced three lemons and set them on the table with the salt shaker. Mitch was already busy filling their glasses with shots.

“What about Terri?”

Denise asked. “I don’t think she can handle this poison,” Julian said. “We’ll celebrate later with a glass of two-percent milk.”

“I want to propose a toast,” Mitch said while raising his glass. “To the future Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Harris. May you be blessed with many years of peace, prosperity, and frequent sex!”

“Hear, hear!” they said in unison, then gulped down the first shot. Mitch quickly gave them a refill and raised his glass again.

“And last, I’d like to propose a toast to our host and my partner, Mr. Julian Payne, for having the courage to pursue his dreams. As of December first,
Love, Lust, and Lies
will be on the air, coast to coast!”

“Hear, hear!” They all raised their glasses, then gulped down another shot.

While everyone was playing cards and getting drunk, Terri
came out of the bathroom and joined Samantha at the piano. She sat down next to her on the bench.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, Sam. Thank you for bringing my purse.”

“No problem.”

“So, can you play this thing, or is it just for show?”

Samantha felt awkward being with Terri one on one, but she wasn’t about to pass up an opportunity to show off to her.

“What song do you want to hear?”

“Why don’t you create your own groove? You know, be original like Jill Scott and India. Arie.”

Samantha was surprised by how down-to-earth Terri was.

“Aren’t you supposed to be a doctor?”

“Yeah—and?”

“Well, I didn’t think doctors were so cool.”

“Girl, please—I can bust a move and get my swerve on with the best of ’em, so don’t get it twisted!”

“You’re funny!” Samantha giggled. “I thought you would be stuffy and, well, kinda boring.”

“I’m still young, chile. Now, your daddy on the other hand, he’s old as dirt.”

“I
know
!” Sam agreed. “When I told him I was watching Big Tigger on BET, he thought I was talking about the character from Winnie-the-Pooh.”

They both laughed.

While Terri and Samantha were talking, the card game in the dining room was beginning to heat up. “You’re set!” Julian yelled as he slammed the big joker on the table. It was just a card game, but Julian saw it as revenge against Eddie for disrespecting Denise. Up until that point Eddie had managed to keep his secret on the down low, but as the shots of tequila began to take effect he and Janet became more relaxed and careless.

While Denise was dealing cards, Janet picked up the Corona Eddie was drinking and took a sip. At first no one paid attention except Julian. But when it happened a second time,
Denise caught it. Her happy expression changed as she and Julian made eye contact. Julian gave her a look of reassurance, letting her know he had her back. Denise tried to compose herself and continued to deal out the rest of the cards. Eddie was so busy flirting with Janet, he didn’t notice the change in Denise’s attitude.

“It’s your bid, Janet,” Denise said.

“Five no trump.”

“What about you,
sweetheart
?” Denise glared at Eddie.

“I pass!”

“I pass, too,” Julian said. “It’s on you, Li’l Sis.”

“I’ll take six, down-town!”

A few minutes into the hand, Janet reached for Eddie’s beer again. But before she could take a sip, Denise snatched the bottle out of her hand and poured it over her head.

“Maybe that’ll cool you off, bitch!”

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Janet yelled.

Terri and Samantha came rushing in from the living room.

“What’s goin’ on?” Terri asked.

“Your girlfriend is fuckin’ my fiancé!”

“I don’t know what she’s talkin’ about.”

“Don’t play the innocent role, you tramp!” Denise shouted.

“You must be
real
comfortable with each other sippin’ out of the same bottle.”

Eddie just sat there with a silly smirk on his face, looking down at his cards.

“I guess your whores in Chicago weren’t enough, huh, Fast Eddie?” Tears began to roll down her face. “I can’t believe you had the audacity to bring one of your women around me, especially today of all days.”

“Look, baby, you know what kind of man I am,” Eddie slurred. “Now, why don’t you sit down and finish the card game. Later on maybe we can all get together and have a good time.”

“That’s it? That’s all you have to say to me after three long
years of supporting your business and washing your dirty drawers?”

“Look, goddamnit!” Eddie stood up and got in her face. “I never promised you a damned thing! You knew I had other women, you knew I didn’t want kids, and you knew I never wanted to be married! Now, you can either sit your emotional ass down and play cards or get the hell out!” Then he sat down.

“Now I see what this is all about. You set this whole thing up to get out of our engagement. Well, baby, mission accomplished!” Denise threw her ring in Eddie’s face. “When we get back home, I want all of your shit out of my house. Now, if you will excuse me.” Denise began walking toward the stairs.

“Thanks for the memories,
Li’l Sis,
” Eddie said sarcastically.

Denise stopped dead in her tracks.

“No, sweetheart, thank
you
for the lesson. Sometimes it takes someone like you to make a woman realize she’s wasting the most valuable thing she’s got—her time.” Then she walked upstairs.

There was a tense silence. Juanita and Charles excused themselves and left through the back door. Janet was so embarrassed she rushed out right behind them. “I’m sorry, Terri,” she said on her way out.

“Terri, take Samantha upstairs,” Julian said in a serious tone. “Betty, you need to go with them.”

“Can a brotha get a drink around this joint?” Eddie slurred. Mitch walked over to the table and sat down next to Eddie. Julian, who was already sitting on Eddie’s left side, moved his chair in closer to him.

“Can you believe that woman?” Eddie continued. “I guess she’s gonna have to catch a cab and find a place to stay tonight, huh, Julian?”

“I don’t think so,
partner,
you’re the one who’s leaving.”

“Excuse me?”

“You heard what the man said!” Mitch’s tone was hostile. “Get to steppin’.”

“Oh, so it’s like that?” Eddie drank the last sip of his tequila and stood up from the table. “Fuck both of you—especially you, Julian.” He staggered toward the door. “You ain’t nothing but a hypocrite. I know you fucked Olivia in Chicago, and you probably hit it again after the party at the hotel. You ain’t no better than me!”

“That’s where you’re wrong, Eddie. There’s a big difference between you and me. I appreciate a good woman and I’m not afraid of commitment. You, on the other hand, can’t separate your dick from your manhood, and it’s gonna get you in serious trouble one of these days.”

“Save your sermon for the radio,” Eddie said as he picked up his garment bag. “I told you, I live life on my terms and I’m willing to pay the price for my sins. What about you?” Then he walked out the door.

Julian walked over to the window and watched as Eddie drove off. He covered his face with his hands and exhaled. He knew it was the end of their friendship.

“It’s never easy letting go of your friends.” Mitch placed his hand on Julian’s shoulder. “Some people just have to learn the hard way.”

“Twenty-five years, down the drain,” Julian replied. “Why can’t he just grow up?”

“The real question is: Why can’t you accept that he won’t?” Mitch said.

As he walked toward the pantry to get a mop to clean up the beer, the phone rang.

“Hello, Payne residence.” Mitch paused. “It’s for you, Julian. Sounds like one of those annoying telemarketers.”

When Julian picked up the phone he checked the caller ID, but the number was blocked.

“Hello, this is Julian.”

“Nice party—why wasn’t I invited?”

“Olivia?”

“How did you like my little message?” She laughed. “I thought it was appropriate for the occasion.”

“Where are you?”

Julian peeked out the window nervously. When he didn’t see Olivia’s truck, he rushed outside to look down the street.

“
Mm,
I love those tan shorts, they show off your hairy legs.”

“Look, you psycho bitch, I’m telling you for the last time, stay away from me and my family, you understand!”

“Don’t raise your voice at me, Julian. You know how sensitive I am,” she said in an evil tone. “I might really get mad and carve my next message into your chest with my box cutter. You remember my box cutter, don’t you?”

“What do you want, Olivia? And why are you doing this?”

“I want respect, damnit! I want love, and I want you!” Suddenly, her tone was soft and polite. “Why can’t we go back to the way it was that first night in Chicago, remember? The good conversation, the great sex?” She sighed. “Now, I know I scared you away, and I’m sorry. But the only reason I act this way is because I love you and I don’t want to lose you.”

“Olivia, I don’t want you—hell, I don’t even know you. I suggest that you get some professional help before somebody gets hurt.”

“The only person who’s gonna get hurt is you!” She went back to her hateful tone. “Like I told you, every dog has its day, woof-woof, motherfucker!” Then she hung up.

A PROCESSION OF yellow school buses stood idling outside the entrance of Clover Junior Academy. The principal was staring impatiently at her watch as she waited for Samantha and Ms. Randall to come down. After a couple of minutes, she rushed back into the building to find out what was holding them up. When she arrived at the music class, Samantha was holding her stomach and moaning.

“Samantha, why aren’t you on the bus with the rest of the kids?” Ms. Bell asked her.

“My stomach hurts. I think it was something I ate for breakfast.”

“Ms. Randall, could you please take her downstairs to see the nurse? I’ve got to get these buses moving.”

“Don’t worry, she’s in good hands.”

“Sorry you’re going to miss the field trip. If you feel better, Ms. Randall can drive you to the zoo later on.”

As soon as Ms. Bell was out of sight, they burst out laughing.

“Well, I guess we have the rest of the day to ourselves,” Ms. Randall said. “Are you ready to go?”

“Yeah, where to first?”

“Well, we’re going to get a pedicure and manicure, then we’re going shopping.”

“Good, I love shopping!”

“First we have to stop by my house so I can change out of these boring clothes.”

“While we’re there, can I change into the clothes we bought at the mall?”

“Sure, I don’t see why not.”

“Can I play your piano, too, like you promised?”

“Yes, Samantha. But you have to swear not to tell anyone that I took you to my house; not your baby-sitter, not Ms. Bell, and definitely not your father!”

“Don’t worry, Ms. Randall, I won’t tell. Like you said, it’s just betwelln us girls.”

________________

When they arrived at Ms. Randall’s house, Samantha was overwhelmed by how beautifully the rooms were decorated. The living room was furnished with a peach-tone leather sectional and black granite tables with matching lamps. In the middle of the table was a hand-painted lavender vase with freshly cut roses inside. The kitchen wallpaper was a bright floral design with bright green borders.

“Wow! Now, this is what I call a girl’s house,” Samantha said. “My daddy decorates everything in our house in black, or gray, or green. Yuk!”

“That’s men for you. They’ll decorate the entire house with beer cans and wine bottles if you let them.” Ms. Randall laughed. “I bet your dad has that poster of Malcolm X with his hand on his chin hanging up somewhere.”