Looking For Trouble (12 page)

Victoria shook her head and smiled. “No, sweetie, go right ahead. Sometimes it's good to hold on to memories.”

The distance in her mother's voice made Alexandria pause. “Are you okay?”

“I'm fine, just a little tired from sitting down here on these hard chairs. You ready to go back upstairs?”

A few minutes later, they were back in the kitchen, where their journey had started.

“I thought for sure you would find what you were looking for in that trunk,” Victoria told her daughter as she reached into the cabinet for a plastic container.

“On some levels, I did. Coming here forced me to open up to you, and it freed me. Now I feel like something good is going to happen, like the threat of danger is gone, and my life is going to take a new turn.”

Victoria smiled. “I'm glad we had this talk, too. And knowing that you feel safe is all I want.”

“Me too.”

“But I still wonder about the diamond. Lord, I hope it doesn't involve Peter!”

“Well, tell me how you really feel!” Alexandria laughed. “I don't think you have to worry about him. As a matter of fact, I'm going to take care of that situation tonight.”

“Good. Now here,” Victoria said as she handed her daughter the plastic container. “Take those cookies on the platter over there with you. They're great with ice cream.”

All Alexandria could do was smile. She'd come over to her parents' house looking for answers. While she hadn't gotten complete resolution to all her questions, she was leaving with a better frame of mind, a new direction for her life, and a container of triple chocolate-chip cookies, to boot!

“There you two are,” Ted said, smiling, as he walked into the kitchen.

 

Ted Thornton was the picture of handsome sophistication, even now in his older years. His once–jet-black hair had turned into a pleasant salt-and-pepper mix. His olive skin was still supple, but now it showed small lines of age. His ocean blue eyes were still hypnotic and captivating to those who looked into them, and people often commented that he looked like the male models in the Jos. A. Bank ads. Ever since he experienced four life-changing events over twenty years ago, he'd refocused his energies and was happier now than he'd ever been. But the road getting there hadn't been easy.

The first blow came when his mother passed away after battling a long illness. Then, shortly after her funeral, he was hit with the secret she'd kept—that she was half-black, and had passed for white all her life. But the most devastating event, and what had hurt him worse than the heart attack he'd suffered, was when he found out that Victoria had come close to having an affair with Parker Brightwood, her ex-boyfriend. It had taken him a full year to get over his anger, suspicion, and resentment. But slowly the two worked their way back to each other, and the life-changing birth of their son, Christian, had served as a healing symbol.

Ted and Victoria shared a love that could be felt by those who watched them as they went through life together. When Victoria was diagnosed with breast cancer ten years ago, it was Ted who was by her side through her mastectomy, chemo, hair loss, and night sweats. When he decided to expand ViaTech, his privately held, multimillion-dollar telecommunications company, into the international market a few years ago, it was Victoria who encouraged him to take that big leap, opening him up on the world stage.

“Hey, Dad.” Alexandria walked up to Ted and gave him a hug.

Looking at her father, and then over to her mother, it once again made Alexandria think about how much she wanted a meaningful relationship. Although she always had boyfriends in a plentiful supply, her struggle to deal with her gift had no doubt affected each of her romances. But now that she'd released what had long been inside, she was ready for a true love of her own.

“How's my princess doing?” Ted said with a smile.

“I'm good, Dad. Really good.”

Ted looked over at Victoria, his ocean blue eyes scanning hers for clarity. Alexandria could tell her father detected something different in her demeanor, so she answered the question she knew he'd be asking her mother once she left. “Mom and I had a great talk today. She'll tell you all about it.”

“I sure will,” Victoria spoke up.

Twenty minutes later, Alexandria found herself heading down the street to Peter's house. She knew what needed to be done, so she planned to have a calm discussion and let him know that their relationship had run its course. “I'm not happy and I know he can't be all that happy, either,” she said aloud, coaching herself toward their breakup. “This'll be for the best. Besides, maybe now we'll both be able to find the right person.”

As Alexandria neared Peter's driveway, a force hit her so hard that it caused her to stop her car in the middle of the street. This time, it wasn't voices that froze her in her tracks. Instead, it was an overwhelming feeling that she needed to be somewhere else. Something was calling her. She could tell that it wasn't Grandma Allene, but she couldn't identify exactly who or what it was. She sat still for a moment, knowing she had to obey her gut. So without a second thought, she made a U-turn and headed downtown to the place where she knew she needed to be.

Chapter 16

“T
he joint is packed!” Maxx said with excitement.

John surveyed the crowded parking lot of the Blue Room. He'd never seen so many people there on a Saturday night. Nearly every space in the paved lot was full, and it seemed as if new guests were arriving every second. Maxx whistled when he saw two women in tight skirts and high heels heading up to the front door.

“Pace yourself,” John told his friend. “The night's still young and there's more of that inside.” He cut his eyes at Madeline, fully expecting her to launch a snide remark after his slip-of-the-tongue comment. But to his astonishment, she remained silent and actually smiled at him.

This, combined with her crazy declaration of love for him, and the fact that from the moment Maxx had entered the car she seemed unfazed by the potent smell of liquor on his breath, was further confirmation in his mind that she must be up to something. Her current behavior was uncharacteristic of the hellcat he now knew she could be. Docile, agreeable, and smiling with care were not traits he'd have ever associated with Madeline. Yet, there she was, acting like an ambassador of goodwill.

Madeline's strange moods were beginning to make John question her mental stability. Ironically, her disposition had been one of the things that had drawn him to her when they had first started dating. She'd been consistent in everything she did, whether good or bad. But now, he didn't know what to make of her ever-changing temperament.

Despite his uneasiness and confusion, there was one thing that John was very sure of. After this weekend, he was going to think long and hard about whether to continue a relationship with Madeline.

“Slim knew there would be a big crowd,” Maxx said, breaking John from his thoughts, “so he got Mr. Hanks to reserve a space for us around back.”

Once John parked in the lone space next to the proprietor's Cadillac, the three headed up the steps and entered through the back door of the building. They stopped in the middle of the hall when they saw a tall, gangly man approach.

“Slim, what's happenin', man!” Maxx yelled out.

“Well, I'll be damned. If it ain't the birthday boy hissself!” Slim howled with laughter. “Man, how you gonna show up late for your own damn party?”

“'Cause the party don't start till I arrive,” Maxx said with a wide smile.

“I hear ya, brothah.”

“Thanks for talkin' Mr. Hanks into lettin' me use this place, Slim. Shuttin' down on a Saturday night just to help me celebrate . . . that means a lot to me, and I appreciate it.”

“No need to thank me. You my family, you know that.” Slim smiled, looking from Maxx to John as he gave each of them a soul brother handshake and hug.

The three men had been friends since high school when John and Maxx welcomed Slim into their fold, dubbing him their “honorary little brother.” “Slim,” whose real name was Maurice Jones, had moved to Nedine from Los Angeles when he was fourteen years old. His father had been murdered in a drug deal gone wrong. After the funeral, his mother packed up everything they owned and headed back to Nedine, where she had family.

Even though Slim was only one year and one school grade behind John and Maxx, he seemed much younger, and had always been treated as such. His adolescent acne, rail thin body, slightly awkward demeanor, and goofy grin had made his adjustment to Nedine a difficult one. John and Maxx were the popular, nice guys who always befriended the underdog. So when they saw the other kids teasing Slim, calling him “four eyes” because of the thick lenses inside his black horn-rimmed glasses, they immediately came to his rescue. After that, no one ever picked on Slim again.

Slim had literally begged Mr. Hanks to shut down the club on his busiest night—all so Maxx could hold his party there, at no rental charge. He felt proud of himself for being able to talk the notoriously tightfisted owner into obliging him—a mere busboy and kitchen cook—on such a lofty request. But the truth that neither Slim nor anyone else knew was that Mr. Hanks's decision was made easy by the large check that John had so generously paid last month to secure the spot.

Slim grinned. “Mr. Hanks even gave me the night off so I can celebrate with y'all. But first things first. . . . Who do we have here?” he asked, looking at Madeline.

“Madeline King, meet Mr. Maurice Jones, aka Slim.” John smiled as he made the introduction. “Slim works at this fine establishment.”

Slim stretched out his bony hand and shook Madeline's. “It's always a pleasure to meet a beautiful lady,” he said, bowing his head politely before turning his attention to John. “You sure know how to pick 'em.” He flashed John his trademark goofy grin and gave him a pat on the back. “I can tell this fine lady is one of a kind,” Slim said, looking at Madeline as though he was about to salivate.

John had a response for that; but since it wasn't a kind one, he decided to keep it to himself. He took a deep breath. “Let's get the birthday boy out there to greet his public.”

Slim nodded, then leaned in close to John and Maxx, giving both men a serious stare. “Uh, Josie and Thelma . . . they're both here.”

John let out another deep breath and shook his head; but again, he kept his comments to himself.

“Ain't nothin' but a thing.” Maxx laughed, seemingly unaffected by the potential danger. “Matter of fact—the more, the merrier.”

Slim ran his hand over his scarce patch of hair. “I love you like a brother, Maxx, you know I do. But I don't want no shit goin' down in here tonight. I put my hide on the line so you could have your party here. There ain't been one single disturbance at the Blue Room since Mr. Hanks opened the doors ten years ago, so please don't make tonight be the first.”

John and Slim exchanged worried glances; both men were aware of the damage that could be done. In John's book of rules, two women who had been known to fight, and one man who'd been involved with them both, always equaled trouble.

Maxx threw up his hands and smiled. “Hey, they just women. I got it under control.”

 

Maxx led the procession as he, John, Madeline, and Slim entered the heart of the Blue Room. The mundane exterior belied the true ambience of the establishment. From the aqua blue walls, to the navy blue suede lounge chairs, to the mirrored bar with top-shelf liquor, to the large chandelier, which sparkled with brilliant faux sapphires and dazzling crystals in the middle of the dance floor, the Blue Room was the place where one came to see and be seen in the small town of Nedine. It was the nicest club for black folks in the entire county, and each weekend the place was packed. Tonight it was filled to capacity for Maxx's birthday celebration.

“The party's in full swing,” Slim yelled over the lively voices and pounding music that flooded all sides of the room.

From women wearing everything from Afros, to press n' curls and mini skirts, to men sporting tight fades and tailored pants mixed with raw silk shirts, everyone had come dressed to impress, ready to have a good time. When the latest soul tune boomed through the speakers, the movement on the dance floor magnified. Everyone, including the woman they called “One-legged Amy,” who walked with a limp, was shaking to the beat.

John wanted to enjoy the good time, but both Madeline's presence and the threat of a catfight between Maxx's women were preventing it.

“I'll be back,” Madeline said in an extra-chipper voice, sounding syrupy sweet. “I need to go to the ladies' room.”

John reached out and touched her arm. “You sure you're okay?”

Madeline manufactured another smile and said, “I'm fine, John. Why do you keep asking me if I'm okay, and why do you think something's wrong with me?”

“Because you're being nice, and
nice
isn't what you do.” He could see that Madeline wanted to tear into him, but instead she shook her head and laughed.

“Remember how you told me this afternoon that if you didn't know any better, you'd have thought I was trying to piss you off on purpose? Well, I feel that way right now.”

“I'm not trying to piss you off. I just want to know what's going on with you.”

Madeline drew in a deep breath and blew out irritation. “I'm tired of this whole scene. When I come back from the ladies' room, we need to leave this party.”

John looked into Madeline's face, not believing her unreasonable demand. “First you begged me to bring you to Nedine with me so you could meet my family and friends and attend this party. Then once you got here, you disrespected my parents, and now you want to leave the very party you said you wouldn't miss for the world and actually threatened me over during the drive here. I knew bringing you on this trip was a bad idea. I should've trusted my instincts and left you back in New York.”

“I told you earlier that I didn't want to stay at this party for too long.”

“But you said you changed your mind.”

“Well, I've changed it again. I'm entitled to do that, aren't I?”

“Not if it involves the kinds of games you're playing.”

“I'm not the one playing games, John. You are.”

“What?”

“That's right. You claim to love your family so much, and especially your grandmother. But the truth is that you'd prefer to spend the night partying inside a club rather than go visit her. You know we won't have time to see her tomorrow, because she and your parents will be in church by the time we leave in the afternoon. So we need to go now.”

John eyed her with suspicion. “What's the real reason you're itching to meet my grandmother?”

“I don't know what you're talking about.”

“Disrespecting my parents wasn't enough, huh? Now I guess you want to show out with my grandmother? Well, not on your life. I wouldn't let you near that sweet old woman if someone offered me a pot of gold.”

“Fine!” Madeline said in a slightly raised voice. “You don't have to take me to your grandmother's house. But if you don't leave this club with me when I get back, I guarantee you that you'll be sorry.”

John's eyes narrowed on hers. “I've been trying to be a gentleman with you, even though you haven't been acting like a lady. But now, Madeline, I've had enough. Threaten me one more time and I'll show you a side of me that you'll live to regret.”

Madeline craned her neck in response. “Watch your step, motherfucker, or I'll show you what real regret looks and feels like!” she hissed, then turned on her heels and charged off to the ladies' room.

John was so livid that he felt as if he were having an out-of-body experience. He wanted to run behind Madeline, snatch her by the arm, and follow through on his words. But he knew he couldn't and shouldn't make that kind of move. Number one, he didn't want to go to jail. Number two, high drama wasn't his style. And number three, his father had taught him to be a gentleman, no matter the situation, and always to use his head. So for those reasons, he let Madeline slide.

John couldn't believe the way she was behaving, almost as if she was another person entirely. He wondered what in the hell had gotten into her. Again, he was tempted to confront her, but her present state was so unpredictable he feared she might cause more trouble than Josie and Thelma combined. He hated to leave Maxx, but he knew he had to do something. Once Madeline came back from the ladies' room, who knew what kind of stunt she'd pull?

After Madeline was out of sight, Slim walked over to him. “Your lady looks like one of them models straight outta
Ebony
magazine.” He grinned. “She's beautiful, John, and I'm glad to see you finally gonna settle down.”

“What makes you think I'm going to settle down with Madeline?”

“Well, I know it ain't every day that you bring a woman back here to Nedine. Plus, we ain't gettin' no younger, so I just thought maybe this one might be the future missus.”

John chuckled. “Think again, partner. Everything isn't what it seems, by a long shot.”

“Oh? Damn, I guess everything that glitters ain't gold.”

John rubbed his chin and nodded. “Man, you don't know the half of it.”

“Trust me, I do. Even here in little ol' Nedine, you'd be surprised how crazy the women be actin' nowadays.”

“Speaking of crazy,” John said, looking over at Maxx, “I don't think he knows that he's playing with fire.”

Maxx was at the bar, flirting with an attractive young woman. Now, instead of two women vying for his attention, he'd upped the ante to three. Josie's and Thelma's scowls grew larger by the second as they both looked on from opposite corners of the room while Maxx flirted shamelessly at the bar.

Josie had been Maxx's on-again, off-again lover for as long as anyone could remember. They couldn't live with each other, but they couldn't go too long without having some type of contact, either, even if it involved cursing and screaming—always on Josie's part. They were a complicated mess. On the other hand, he and Thelma had enjoyed what appeared to be a blissful year-long relationship. But they had recently broken up a few weeks ago . . . in large part due to Josie.

Slim shook his head; his eyes were filled with worry. “I told that fool I didn't want no mess tonight. Now look at him. He ain't gon' stop till some shit hits the fan.”

“Looks like it.” John sighed, hoping it wouldn't come to that, but knowing it probably would.

Maxx was laughing, holding up his glass, and signaling for the bartender to pour him another drink. He leaned over and whispered something into the young woman's ear; whatever he said made her throw her head back and join him in laughter. Seeing this only made the scowls on both Josie's and Thelma's faces grow harder.