His Last Name (19 page)

C
HAPTER
40

Monique

I
missed being in Philly. The people and the hustle and bustle of the city. The stores on every corner, buses riding past, the smell of cheesesteaks and the taste of soft pretzels. It had been months since I had been home. I missed being Monique from Seventeenth and Erie Avenue. The Monique who didn't receive calls asking for money or game tickets. The Monique who could see her son just by knocking on his bedroom door or going to his practice. She didn't have to check his schedule or plan a date with him. I was grateful, but still missed my baby boy.

I was back in Philly to visit CeCe and Mom Laura and also to make things right with my mom. Dele had been encouraging me to talk to her. He was so family-oriented. His mother called every morning, and he always FaceTimed with his brothers. They were such a close unit and they were all over the world. He didn't understand how my mom was in the same country and I didn't even speak to her. And although I didn't want to admit it, he was right: no matter what she did, I was her child and it was my duty to take care of her.

I came to her house and banged on her white screen door. “Mom, it's me.” She looked through the blinds and then opened the door. She let me in and took a seat on her brown love seat. I sat across from her on the gray recliner she had had since I was ten.

“What brings you to walk among the common people?”

“I wanted to talk to you.”

“About what?”

“Well, I wanted to come and check on you and also tell you that I'm paying off your house and buying you a car. And taking care of any other bills you have.”

“That's very kind of you, but that's okay. See, money don't make me. It might make you. But not me. I don't need your money.”

“Mom, I just want to help.”

“Then help yourself to the door. My grandson already paid my mortgage off and bought his grandmother a car and set me up a bank account.”

“He did. That's good, but I still . . . That's not the only reason I came here. I want to talk to you. Mom, I'm sorry, I haven't been the easiest to deal with. But ever since I had Kadir, you've treated me like I was your biggest disappointment.”

She sighed and then said, “I was disappointed. I wanted so much more for you. I worked two jobs so that you could go to Catholic school and to keep you away from neighborhood boys. But you still managed to get pregnant. So when you had that baby, I just thought, I can't sugar-coat anything. I have to prepare her for the real world and make her raise that baby on her own. Yeah, I was hard on you, but I thought I was making you strong. And it worked out. Look what happened, you raised a good boy, be proud of yourself. Kadir calls me all the time. He even got me cable so I can watch his games.”

She got up from the sofa and came over to me and gave me a hug. “We got years to make up for. Just be better than me. Don't be so hard on him.”

“I will.”

I felt so much better that my mom and I were going to be okay. I felt a weight ease off my back. I decided to surprise CeCe at her job. She was an office manager for a doctor's office. She was on a call when I arrived at her office. I smiled at her and she signaled to me to give her one minute.

“What's going on? What are you doing here?”

“I came home to help my mom. My friend and I were talking about family and I felt like I had to help her, but Kadir already has been helping her. Plus, I wanted to see you and Mom Laura.”

“That was nice of him.”

“It was, but he is supposed to run everything by me.”

“Hold that thought. Let me get my coat and clock out. I'll be right out.”

We could go eat and drink anywhere in the city but we still ended up at Copas, a small Philly favorite with finger food and great margaritas. We got a table by the window and ordered two double mango margaritas with sugar rims.

“So what's going on here?'

“Nothing much. What's up with you? Are you going to reveal who your mysterious boo is?”

“No.”

“I can't believe you are going to keep a secret from me! I've been your friend for how long?”

“Next conversation.”

“I'll remember that. Anyway, things are cool. Faheem is doing real good. I'm chilling and working. What's going on with Kadir?”

“He's fine, but keeping Kadir focused is a full-time job. His biological father's people tried to hit him up, and this little girl named Abigail, who has gold digger written all over her, is after him.”

“Yeah, we have to protect our boys.”

CeCe and I had been through everything together, including her marriage and divorce. After another two double margaritas and her begging me to reveal who my boo was, I finally caved and told her.

“Cee, it's the guy from London.”

She put her hand over her mouth. “Hold up, the African guy that plays on Kadir's team?”

“Yes, him. I've been seeing him ever since we met that night. That night you fell asleep, I met up with him.” I waited to see how she was going to respond to my scandal.

“So you think this is cute. I'm shocked. Have you lost your motherfucking mind?”

“CeCe, I know you are not judging.”

“Yes, I'm judging you. My brother, who has done everything for you, doesn't matter now because you're dealing with some young basketball player.”

“Of course he matters. I just want to be happy.”

“Does Kadir know about this?”

“No, not yet.”

“Oh, my God. You have got to be the one to tell Kadir. Mo, you know I ride with you. But this isn't right. Carl has been nothing but loyal to you and Kadir. And you, you are wrong. This is some fucked-up shit.”

“How am I wrong? He's grown and I'm grown. We are both single, consenting adults.”

“Don't you know you are just the girl of the moment? What would make you think he would want to be with a woman almost forty, when he could have someone younger?”

“I didn't start dating Dele until after Carl and I broke up, so that's one. Two, age doesn't matter with us. Three, the only person I have to make happy is myself. And four, me and Carl have outgrown each other. He left me. I didn't leave him. It wasn't enough anymore.”

“Funny, he was enough all these years, and now that you have money, he's not.”

“It's never been enough, I've always wanted more. I tried to make it work with him.”

“Sure you did. I can't believe you.”

“Grandma Cee, I can't believe you are being this damn judgmental.”

“Yeah, I'm judging, but I know that D is good.” She gave me a half smile.

“Girl, it is! It's everything, but it's more than the sex. He is just an all-around good guy.”

“Well, tell Kadir before someone else does.”

Right then my screen lit up and I saw Dele's number on my phone. “We just spoke him up.”

“Tell him I said hi.”

“Hey, babe, what's up? Oh, and CeCe says hi.”

“You told her about us?” he asked excitedly.

“Yes, and I made up with my mom. How are you?”

“I'm good, but listen, Monique, I'm calling to tell you to have a conversation with Kadir. I've been in the league for five years, and I have never seen a player so hated.”

“What did he do?”

“His attitude is disgusting. He's making demands and being rude. And he's not talking to people who aren't wealthy like him. He's being very flashy and that is not okay. He had a few good games. But he said it's his team and laughed about one of the guys not having any time on the court and said he would buy him some time and a new car.”

“Oh, did he? I'm going to talk to him. Thanks for telling me, baby. I'll see you as soon as you get back.” I ended the call and sighed. “My son has lost his mind.”

“What did he say?” CeCe asked.

“He said Kadir is being a cocky asshole. I'm going to call him now and straighten this all out.”

I dialed Kadir on his cell. He answered with the music playing loudly in the background.

“Yo, Ma.”

“Kadir, are you for real? Do you like the life you're living? Keep the dumb shit up and you will lose it all and be playing overseas or in the D-League somewhere if you don't get your shit together.”

“What's wrong? What are you talking about, Mom?”

“I'm talking about don't get a big head. I better not hear again that the Hornets is your team. There are thirty teams and thirteen spots on each team and you better be thankful, Kadir, that you have one of them, because there are millions of boys that want to be where you're at.”

“Oh, you're talking about me arguing with Smith. He was talking trash about me and I said something back. I told him to talk to me when he gets off the bench. How you know about that anyway?”

“Don't worry about it. Do better.”

C
HAPTER
41

Adrienne

I
came to L.A. with a mission and it was time to get back to it. Plus, it was time for me to leave the nest of Mrs. Coleman aka Ms. Tucker and find my own way. She was on and off her meds and I couldn't take much more.

My goal was to try to schedule meetings. The first person on my list was Warren Michael Joseph. I whipped out the contact information I had taken and decided to give him a call.

“Good morning. This is Adrienne Sheppard. I met you the other night at Morgan Tucker's party.”

“Yes, I remember. Is this her beautiful assistant?”

I was caught off guard. “It is. I'm calling because I have a script that I wrote that you may be interested in. I wanted to meet up with you to discuss it.”

“I'm available today. We can meet for coffee at two at Espresso House.”

“Yes, I'll see you then.”

I didn't know what to wear. I was so excited. I wanted to look sexy, but I wanted Mr. Joseph to know I meant business. I settled on something in between, a low-cut gray minidress with black pumps and a black blazer.

I grabbed a table outside in the courtyard overlooking the street. I ordered a spinach salad and raspberry tea.

“Sorry, I was running a little behind,” he said, walking in.

“No problem.” The waitress took his order and I let him get settled in before I started my pitch.

“So it's good to see you again. Are you from here?”

“No, originally from Philly, but I lived in Atlanta, and Miami also.”

“What brings you to L.A.?” he asked.

“The same thing as everyone else. I'm trying to make something happen. I have a script that I wrote, and I am trying to sell it.” I didn't have any time to sugar-coat my intentions. He was either interested on not. “I think you would be interested in it. It's called
Falcon Hall Boys
.”

“What's it about?”

“It's about five guys who all lived in the same dorm hall in college, Falcon Hall. They make a vow to each other that they will all graduate college no matter what. Their family, the streets, and other things try to keep them from reaching their goal of graduating. They pull each other up and become brothers along the way.”

“Sounds interesting. Did you write it?”

“Yeah, my ex-boyfriend told me about his experiences in college and I got the idea.”

“I'm impressed. I thought you were going to try to sell me on a story about girlfriends trying to get married.”

“No.” I felt the need to tell him that I wasn't a bum and though I was Morgan Coleman's personal assistant now, once upon a time I was successful.

“I wrote
Falcon Hall Boys
and I've done a few other things. I was a nurse and then I opened a nightclub up two years ago. I invested all my savings. It is a long story, but my ex-fiancé was doing some crazy things that I didn't know about and I lost everything. So now I'm out here rebuilding my life.”

“Okay. So I would love to read your script.”

“No problem. I brought it with me.” I took it out of my bag. Realizing I was becoming too anxious, I thought about it and said, “Or I could e-mail it to you.”

“That would be better. So you do everything, club owner, natural beauty, script writer, and a nurse. What can't you do?”

“I'm just a regular girl trying to making it happen. Oh, and I have a five-year-old daughter. She's in Atlanta with her father.”

“You are far from regular, but I like natural. Your teeth and boobs are yours,” he said while glancing at my cleavage.

I knew I had made the right call to go sexy professional with my outfit.

“That's hard to find out here. I know you have a man back home.”

“No, I've been concentrating on my work.”

“Yeah, I know about that. It's hard to find a woman that can deal with my hectic schedule. I am gone for weeks at a time. My last girlfriend said she was always lonely and said the money wasn't enough and she didn't want me to rescue her. She wanted to make it on her own.”

Money would be enough for me and I want to be rescued, too
, I thought.

“Everyone can't deal with career-driven people. Can you?”

“I don't know; tell me a few things about yourself.”

“
What do you want to know? My real name is Warren Michael Joseph. I have three first names just like my father, Warren Michael Joseph, Senior. I'm really a Junior, but that was too much.”

“I agree.” I laughed.

“What else. I'm from Memphis. My dad's a preacher, my mom was a teacher and then she became a principal. So I couldn't go anywhere and get peace. No kids like me. I was either at the church or school. I love my dad, but me and my dad don't really get along. So I stayed busy.”

“You don't have a southern accent.”

“I lost it when I went to college. You remind me of my college girlfriend a little.”

“I do? What happened to her?”

“She left me for my teammate. I was heartbroken.”

“Damn, that's not good. I don't know if I want to remind you of her.”

“No, it's cool now. It was a long time ago. I'm over it. She was a self-entitled princess. You don't seem that way. Plus, they got married and are happy.”

After talking at the coffee shop for four hours, we moved our conversation to a Chinese restaurant called WP24 located on the twenty-fourth floor of the Ritz Carlton. Our business meeting was getting flirty, considering the skyline view and martinis in front of us. I would take business or pleasure, whichever one he was offering. Either would be beneficial to me.

“This is my favorite place in L.A. and the sushi is really good. I like to chill out when I can. I have two movies coming out, one next month and the other at the beginning of the year. Now that I'm retired, I'll have more time for acting, but football will always be my first love.”

“What team did you play for?” I acted like I hadn't done my research.

“I played for the Carolina Panthers. I was with them for nine seasons.”

“Okay, my ex-husband played for the Seahawks.”

“You were married to an NFL player, too? What happened, you couldn't take the lifestyle?”

“No, we just fell out of love.”

“Well, he must have been crazy to stop loving you.”

After dinner, we sat poolside and took in the scenic view and talked for another two hours.

“I can't believe we've been out for eight hours.”

“Good conversation, a beautiful, interesting date, and we handled a little business. I'll say time well spent. Actually, I have a confession. When you called me I was like is she asking me on a date or does she want to do business.”

“I was thinking business, but I guess this has turned into a date.”

“So we are on a date, so that I'm clear.”

“Yeah, we are.”

“Well, now we know. No blurred lines. I'm very interested in you. You are so genuine. It's hard to find that out here and I really I enjoyed your company all day.”

“I enjoyed yours as well.”

At the end of the night he gave me a sweet, simple, romantic but promising kiss on my lips.

To say my first date was wonderful was an understatement. I was blown away. I came back to the house on a natural high, until I spotted Morgan sitting up on the sofa. She grimaced at me then at her phone. I felt like she was my mother and she caught me coming in late.

“Where have you been?”

“Out.”

“Good night, Morgan,” was all I could manage to say. Before I said something a lot less pleasant, like kiss my ass.

“Where have you been?” she asked again.

“What I do when I'm not working for you is honestly none of your business.”

“Yeah, that's true, but this is my house and I don't want anyone coming in my home after two a.m. When I close my eyes I like to feel secure and know that no one is running around my property.”

“A curfew? You're ridiculous, Morgan. Go to bed.”

* * *

The next morning I showered and came into the main house and saw an extremely large floral arrangement with combination of white, red, and yellow roses.

“Nice flowers,” I said.

“Thanks, but they're yours. I suppose you got lucky last night. Don't get sidetracked.”

A text came through my phone.

I texted back:

He texted again:

I waited ten minutes just to make him sweat a little, then texted:

His response was: