Permanent Resident at the Purse Table (3 page)

“It's not you, Ava. Don't even think that. You are worth more and deserve more. He's just one jerk. There are some good ones out there.” Rene's assurance wasn't working.

“I told you all men are dogs. And they stay in heat.” Toni smirked. “No, Ava, I'm only joking. Don't let that one fool get you down. He ain't nobody! Remember, you're waiting for the right one. And obviously he's not it.”

“I know y'all are right, but it just runs me hot. I finally get approached by a man tonight and all he wants is sex.” She smacked her lips. How could her friends relate when they didn't have the same problem? “Do I have a sign on my head that reads
OPEN FOR BUSINESS
?”

Toni squinted her eyes toward Ava's forehead. “I don't see anything. But I can't be sure. I need to keep my eyes on the road. You may want to have Rene take a look. You know she's the avid reader.”

Everyone laughed as Toni pulled in front of Ava's apartment. Ava got out of the car, and said good-bye to her friends. As they drove off, she wondered if there was something wrong with her. Why did men seem to pick her out for the wrong reason?

Still upset with Jason's poor choice of pickup lines, Ava was proud of how easily she turned him down. A few weeks ago she might have allowed him to keep talking until she gave in to his plea just to feel close to someone, but not tonight.

As she changed out of her club attire and into her granny gown, she thought about her prayer earlier by the lake and couldn't believe how soon the enemy tried to cancel her promise to God. He was working all the time, but he couldn't even wait a full twenty-four hours to try to throw her off of her celibacy game.

She could mull over her situation better with a package of Oreos and a big glass of ice-cold milk. After getting her snacks and retreating to her bedroom, she turned on the TV and flipped through the channels. Alone again. Did she really do the right thing? Jason was a good-looking man.
Wait. Of course I did. Focus.

Even though her body may have welcomed an advance from an attractive man like Jason, she did know she was worth more. And not only did she deserve more, she wanted more. She also hoped if she stood strong in her convictions, the perfect man for her would eventually cross her path. If he truly was out there, she didn't mind waiting a little longer for God to help him find his way to her.

Ava stared at the ceiling from her warm bed. Church started in an hour, but her thousand-thread count sheets invited her to stay longer. Her mother's words bounced around in her head.
If you can stay out all night, you can definitely have your behind in a church pew somewhere on Sunday morning.
She imagined her mother's facial expression and finger pointing. Sneering at the thought, she released a deep breath, and then popped out of bed and got dressed.

As she drove to the House of the Lord Baptist church, many reasons to turn around and jump back under the covers ran through her mind. She continued in spite of her thoughts. About ten minutes later, as folks from all walks of life filed into the sanctuary doors, Ava wore guilt on her face, along with a stylish purple hat. She could still smell the club smoke in her hair, and wanted the hat to do its job of hiding the unpleasant odor. Several hugs and hellos were passed out, and then she took her seat toward the back.

After the choir belted out a few powerful numbers, and the collection plate had been passed around, Pastor Monroe traveled to his place in the pulpit. His wife, Sandra, gazed at him from the front row.

“Today, I'd like to talk to you about being a lukewarm Christian.”

A couple of amens and hallelujahs were shouted toward the front. Ava's backside and shoulders descended into her seat.

Pastor Monroe cleared his throat. “The scripture reads in Revelation 3:15–16, ‘I know your deeds that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other. So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I am about to spit you out of my mouth.' That's from the New International Version.” He wiped his brow with his starched handkerchief. “Congregation, God is asking you to choose Him, or choose the world. Living a double life does not please Him. He can't use you to move His Kingdom forward.”

In order to fit in with the rest of the congregation, Ava shook her head and raised her hand at every other phrase. Pastor Monroe's eyes came her way on occasion. She wanted him to look somewhere else. Anywhere else. Thoughts of who else needed to hear this message comforted her.

Maybe I'll get the CD of this sermon for Rene and Toni.
She brainstormed a couple of more names and completed a mental grocery list, then realized the service was coming to a close. An associate pastor led an altar call for those who desired to get saved. Ava picked up her Bible and straightened the strap on her sandal.

When the doors of the church opened, she hustled through the lobby, past the floral arrangements and crowd of folks congregating in the lobby. Her feet moved faster than they did when she arrived. She didn't need anyone asking her how things were going. Especially since things weren't going anywhere.

As she turned on the air in her car and adjusted her seat belt, her cell phone's buzz startled her. Rene's photo appeared on the screen.

“Hey, Ava. What's going on?”

“Not much, girl. Just leaving church.” The pride inside rose in her chest. Among her close group of girlfriends, Ava was the one who attended church on a somewhat regular basis. She had Rene and Toni beat in that area at least.

“How was the service?”

Ava pulled out of the parking lot. “Good. It was one of those messages where you feel like the preacher's talking directly to you.”

“Yeah, I know exactly what you mean. But it probably just felt like that. I should've had my backside in the seat next to you.”

“Well, maybe in the seat next to the seat next to me. You know I'm saving one for my future husband.”

Rene giggled.

“So what's up?” Ava believed there was more to Rene's phone call. She could hear it in her voice.

Rene's laughing ceased. “Ishmael's got me going through some things.”

“Anything I can help you with?” Ava turned the volume up on her cell. What had he done now?

“Well.” Rene paused. “I need a ride to this towing yard over off 59. I need to get my car.”

“Get your car? Didn't Ishmael have it last night? Where was he that he got your car towed?”

Rene's deep sigh spoke volumes. “At some apartment complex. He says he didn't see the signs about visitor parking.”

“At some apartment complex?” Ava rolled her eyes. An apartment complex and his mother's house were two different spots. With Ishmael, plans constantly changed. Would Rene ever get tired of that? “I thought he was at his mom's house.”

“As did I. I don't know, girl. I just want to get my car. Can you take me?” Rene sucked her teeth. “Ishmael's car is still in the shop.”

“Of course. I'll be there shortly.” Ava double-checked that she hit the end button on her phone before she spoke. “I can't believe this. What is his problem?” Tension built up in her as she made a U-turn. “Lord, if Ishmael is not the man for Rene, please remove him from her life. She seems to have more bad days than good ones with him. Your will be done. Amen.”

Right when Ava was her loneliest, God had a way of sending her a gentle reminder of what she could be going through if she'd still been attached to Xavier. She might have missed the companionship, but she didn't miss the drama.

When Ava arrived at Rene's house, her stomach growled at her. She should've stopped off on the way and got something to eat. Rene leaned back on the wooden bench on her front porch, sporting thick black sunglasses. Walking with determined steps, she opened the car door, slid in, and looked at Ava as if she wanted to bring the phrase “cuss like a sailor” to life.

Ava backed out of the driveway, not sure if she should say anything; but something in her needed more details. “So what does Ishmael have to say about your car?”

“He said something about meeting one of his club-promoting homeboys to pick up some flyers for a concert next week.”

“Mm-hmm.”

“Yeah, I know. I'm an idiot.” Rene rubbed her fingertips back and forth over her pant leg.

“You're not an idiot. You trust him to do what he says he's gonna do.”
Even though he never does it.

Rene's shoulders elevated. “I guess. I'm just getting tired of plans changing. It's always something. If it's not baby momma issues, it's the club promoting thing, or his janky car breaking down. Not to mention his momma. She's a nice lady, but she stays in his business. I just don't know if this is something I want to be married to for the rest of my life.”

Recalling her prayer for Rene just twenty minutes earlier, Ava gave God an internal smile. “Well, do you know how much it will cost to get your car out?”

“Not sure. But he said he'd pay me back. With interest.”

“I'm sure he will.”
Yeah, right.
When had Ishmael ever paid her back for anything? He'd picked up the bill on frustration and aggravation many times over, but paying in cash was not his forte.

Rene put her hand on top of Ava's. “Please don't say anything to Toni. I can't take her right now. That's why I didn't say anything last night.”

“Last night?” Ava frowned in confusion.

“Yes. I called him last night when we were leaving the club, and he told me.” Rene looked down at her fidgeting hands. “I was hot, but didn't want to hear Toni's mouth.”

“I know you and Toni get into it every once in a while. But really, I think she's just looking out for you.” Ava felt like a counselor. “Be it in her own outspoken, opinionated way, but she means well.”

“Whatever your name for it is, she can work my nerves.” Rene used a roll of her neck to emphasize the important words. “And if she would've made one of her comments, I think I would've just snapped.”

Maybe Ava was more like a referee. “I understand, but I really do think it comes from a good place.”

Rene sighed. “I'm sure it does. But in that ‘good place' you're talking about, there's also judgment. And she has no room to talk with the mess her own marriage is in.”

Ava's eyebrows jumped as she tucked her chin. “Okay. Let's change the subject.”

“I'll leave it alone, but I just would like to note that you and I were fine back in college and you just had to bring her into our group.”

“Well, Ms. Law School, you were always studying, so I had to have somebody to kick it with. Plus, like I said, she means well. She just needs to work on her delivery.”

“Yes, that's true. She needs to deliver her opinions to someone else.”

“All righty then.” Ava cleared her throat. “I'm starving. You up for a bite to eat after we get your car?”

“Sure, why not?”

The rest of the ride was in “I'm here for you, girl” silence. Ava didn't want to press any more buttons. Rene's fingers tapped her forehead as she looked to the sky, seemingly searching for answers. Ava knew if Rene wanted to talk she would. Rene was never short on words. The lawyer in her could always find something to say. But with gloom resting all over her face, words were scarce.

After fifteen more minutes, Ava exited where the GPS told her to and followed its directions to the All City Towing Yard. She pulled inside the rusty gates and stopped in front of the small shack of an office. A black and gray sign dangling on its last hinge read OPEN 24 HRS.

Ava would accompany her friend inside if she wanted her to.

Rene opened the car door. “I'll be back.”

Guess not.
The situation was probably embarrassing enough without Ava getting a front-row seat.

 

 

Rene's steps quickened as she got closer to the office. She yanked the screen door open and marched in.

A heavyset, middle-aged man with a white beard sat behind a shabby wooden desk. Switching his cigar to the other side of his mouth, he asked, “May I help you?”

“Um, yes. I'm here to pick up a silver BMW. It was brought in sometime last night or early this morning. My name is Rene Jacobs.”

He sifted through some papers on a clipboard. “Ah, yes. We have that beauty parked right up front a few rows over. I'll need to see your proof of insurance and ID, get payment, and you can be on your way.”

Tapping her toe on the floor, she unzipped her purse and pulled out her insurance and license. “How much will it cost to get it out?”

“Let me see here.” He looked through the bottom of his glasses. “Three hundred and seven dollars.”

“What?”

“I'm sorry, ma'am.” He removed the cigar and placed it in an ashtray. “But along with our fees, the apartments have fees, plus mileage and all. The signs were clear in the parking lot.”

Rene caught herself. She didn't want to get an attitude with him. It wasn't his fault.
Just get the car.
“I know, sir. I'm just angry with the person who didn't see the signs.” She smiled. “By the way, can you give me the address where my car was towed from?”

“Certainly.” He flipped the top sheet over and studied the following page. “That would be 525 East County Road, Houston, Texas. It says here, right in front of building 3200.”

“Thank you. I appreciate it.” She handed him her credit card and thought about who Ishmael knew on the east side of town. Whoever it was, she had never been there with him.

Ishmael would pay her every penny of the fees back, too. And he would never get the keys to her car again. If his piece of crap car broke down, he'd have to ask a homeboy or his mother to borrow theirs.

After she signed the receipt, he handed her a copy. She scribbled the address he'd just given her on the back of her receipt.

“Again, Ms. Jacobs, about three or four rows over, right up front.” He pointed toward the back exit of the office. “You can go through this back door to the lot and when you pull up to the gate, I'll let you out.” He saluted her with two fingers and a grin minus a few teeth, and reinserted the cigar to its rightful place.

She forced a smile and then traveled through the short hallway to the back door.

The smoldering sun glared down on all of the vehicles in the lot. Some cars were intact while others had damages ranging from minor bumps and bruises to more severe dents that made them almost unrecognizable.

Rene spotted her car parked at the front of the fourth row. She strolled around each side of the car and inspected every inch of metal. When everything looked in place, she hit the unlock button on her key chain and got reacquainted with the interior.

She drove to the front of the lot while looking over the seats and in the console for remnants of Ishmael's previous night. A large cardboard box full of advertisements for the club took up most of the back seat. The same flyers he supposedly needed to pick up from Mike's house. Ishmael had a great deal of explaining to do.

 

 

When the gate opened, Ava looked up from checking her text messages. Rene motioned for Ava to follow her. All seemed well, but Rene drove faster than usual down the busy street. Ava suspected the heavy foot of anger leaned on the gas pedal. She followed Rene into the parking lot of the Westland Hills Mall and parked in front of the food court.

Ava stepped out of her car and walked around to Rene's door. “What's the verdict, counselor? How much was it?”

Rene sat back in her seat. “Three hundred and seven dollars! Can you believe that?”

“Dang. I'm sorry, girl.”

“Ish is the sorry one.”

Don't say a word, Ava.
Holding her mouth shut was like closing a stuffed suitcase. But she managed.

Rene locked her car. “I figured we could do some shopping after lunch. I'm not ready to go home anytime soon.”