Single Ladies (17 page)

Chapter 29

Angie

“So, daddy wants me to move back home, and mom has turned into a complete health nut!” Angie laughed as she held a shirt up to her.  “You like this color on me Roni?” she asked.

“It’s cute, but you look better in darker colors to me,” Roni said, as she looked at a dress for herself.

“Not to bring him up or anything, but have you heard from Johnny anymore?”

“No.  It’s been a month now.  I don’t think I will.” Roni said.

“I’m sorry, boo,” she looked at the sadness hidden behind her best friend’s eyes.  “At least he didn’t do you like that asshole Brandon did me.  I told you how he tried to call and get me back. The loser!” Angie said, attempting to make Roni feel a little better about her situation.

“Yeah, these men do have some nerve don’t they?”

“Girl, I’m telling you!” Angie said.

They walked through the mall and two White guys eyeballed them.  One was tall and lanky, the other was no taller than five six and super muscular.  The tall, lanky one approached them.

“Hey sistahs.  Don’t mean to bother you at all, but I was wondering if you’d be interested in having drinks with my friend and I.  On us, of course.”

Roni and Angie looked at each other and laughed. 

“No that’s alright.  I don’t drink,” Roni said.

“Thanks anyway,” Angie smirked as they walked away.

The guys watched them, as they walked off, giggling like two schoolgirls. 

“Did you hear him girl? Sistahs!” Roni laughed.  A genuine, cheerful laugh for the first time in weeks.

Chapter 30

Roni

The next day, Roni was at work, when Mona told her she had a phone call on hold. 

“Veronica Carter speaking, how may I help you?“  she said.

No response.

“Hello?”

“Roni,” it was Johnny’s voice.

Roni felt weak in her knees. She didn’t know whether to hang up the phone, start cursing him out, or just listen to what had to say.

“Johnny?”

“Yeah?”

“What do you- you want?” she wanted to sound cold, but the love she had for him, intervened with her tone.

“I- we need to talk,” he said.

“What do we need to talk about?” she looked up to make sure nobody was around the desk area.

“I just need you to meet me.  I’ll be there tomorrow.  Please meet me at Serra Springs Park at nine oclock.”

“Johnny, where are you?” she asked.

“Just meet me tomorrow, baby. Please.” he hung up.

She stood with the phone in her hands.  Confused, excited, and angry, all at the same time.

“Is everything okay?” Mona breezed past her with her box of cigarettes in her hand.

“Oh, yeah. Fine, thanks Mona,” she lied.

“I’m going out for a smoke, while we’re slow,” she said.

“K,” Roni replied, not hearing a word Mona had said.  The only thing she thought about is seeing Johnny finding out why he left.

“He stood in front of her, his eyes glistening with tears.  The autumn breeze caressed Roni's shoulder length, black hair, that she wore down for the first time in years.  She'd lost twenty pounds and her once chubby face was oval shaped, her features were more defined, and her beauty was more evident than before.  He took her trembling hand into his.  "I don’t know where to start.  All I know is, that I want to say sorry.  I'm sorry for quitting on you, without notice.”

“You quitting the job is the furthest thing from my mind right now, Johnny,” she said.

He continued,  “ I kept telling myself that I wasn't in love. That I better run now and not look back.  I guess- I guess I was- was scared.  I got left before.  I don’t have to tell you that anymore, you already know.  I just couldn't deal with the pain of losing you, so I left.  I just have to be a man and be honest.  I was scared- and- I was chasing the dream of a lifetime.  I got the break that I've been wanting all my life and I ran for it.  When I was in Miami, my boy, Rob, from the Hole connected me with some contacts out in New York.  They want to sign me.  Once I got to there, Roni, I saw all these tall buildings, bright lights, beautiful single women, and a world of new opportunities," he paused to fight the tears in his voice."  "But all I could think about was you.  I couldn't concentrate on anything.  I realized that my life was so incomplete without you."  Slowly, he knelt down on one knee.  Roni's knees almost gave out.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box.  He gazed up into her eyes. "Veronica, I love you.  Nothing in this world is important if I don't have you in my life.  Some people would call me crazy for doing this so soon, but I feel it in my heart that you're my soul mate.  We don’t have to do it now.  It doesn’t even have to be soon,  but, you are the one I wanna be with. I can‘t be without you, Roni.  Please say you’ll go back to New York with me and be my wife?"

Her bittersweet tears streamed down her dark skin.  What she never thought would happen to her, happened at that very moment.  Her emotions started to spin and she didn't know what she was feeling from one second to the next.  In fear, she answered, "You can just leave me, without so much as a goodbye. Not even a damn Dear John!  I'm sorry, Johnny.  I can't. You were so afraid of me leaving you, that you left me." She gently pulled her hand away, and ran.  She didn't look back.  Nor did she have to.  He watched her run, until she was gone.  He remained on the beach, kneeling on the sand, with his bleeding heart in his hands.

Chapter 31

Roni

Almost two months later, Daphne was alone at the shop.  Roni came in for a wash and deep condition.  As Daphne massaged Roni's scalp, she noticed the distant look on her face.

"So, do you wanna talk about it?" Daphne insisted.

After a few sighs, Roni, poured out her heart.  "Daph, I'm just scared.  He wants to marry me.  I have waited my whole life for this.  Ever since I was a little girl, I'd always dreamed of being swept off my feet by the man of my dreams.  Now that I've met the man of my dreams, and he's ready to sweep me off my feet, I am afraid.  I'm afraid that he will leave me one day... that what is so right may end up being so wrong.  I feel like he's my soul mate, but maybe it's too soon to tell."

Daphne waited patiently for her to finish.  "Roni, you are one of my best friends and I love you like a sister.  I have sat back and watched you go from one guy to the next, in tears and sinking into one depression after another.  You have been through them all.  The liars, the cheaters, the moochers, and even a married man.  When you talked about Johnny, I saw your face light up.  Your eyes told a story that they never have.    It's never too early to fall in love.  Love has no time limit.  If you just know in your heart, then dont let anybody else tell you how to feel!  Don't be afraid to be happy, baby.  I had to learn that the hard way.  Before I could come out and tell y'all that I was a lesbian, I had to think about my happiness and my life.  Not anybody else’s.  I had to relax all of my anxieties and my fears and just live for once.  And you know what? It feels good.  So, I'm telling you.  You have to let go of your fears and just live. If it feels right, go for it."

"But he called me only twice in the last couple of months.  Maybe he doesn't care anymore."

"I'm willing to bet he does."

"What makes you say that?"

"He’s all the way in New York.  He doesn’t have to see you ever again, Roni, but he’s making every effort to do just that.”

"What the hell do you mean?" Roni's big eyes widened, as she turned around in the chair to look at Daphne.

Daphne laughed. "Johnny's promoters in the area dropped off some event fliers.  He will be here this Friday night, at the Hole.  He's performing.   He wants to you to be there.  The big guy from the Hole, the emcee, he‘s cool with Jas.  He came in here and relayed the message for Johnny.  See, Johnny thinks if he was to ask you to come, personally, you would‘ve turned him down."

Daphne handed her one of the small, glossy advertisements, and Johnny's handsome face was the first thing she saw.  She was quiet for minutes.

"You okay, Roni?"

"Oh my God. I love him so much, Daphne," she wailed.

Daphne spun the chair around and looked her friend in the eyes. " Then, tell him, Roni."

"Roni, Angie, Karla and Tony, and Daphne and Jas, all took a seat in front of the stage at the Hole.  Karla was doing her usual complaining about the smoke.    The show hadn’t started yet.  People were sitting around and talking.

“Everybody, I know this is not the best time for introductions, but this is my girlfriend, Jas.  Jas this is Roni, Angie, and Karla, and her friend Tony.“  she said, pointing to each of them. 

“Hi, Jas, nice to meet you,“ everyone seemed to say simultaneously. 

“Same here,” she said in her deep, sultry New York accent.

After several poets had performed, the fat emcee, Bigg-Boi Rob came back out to introduce the grand finale act.

"I got a treat for ya'll.  Back by popular demand.  Ya'll know him. Ya'll love him.  Ya'll wanted him...and YA'LL GOT EM!  Back home in the A-T-L from New York city, Tha’ Baddest!  Johnnnnnnnnnnnnnnay Parkerrrrrrrr!"

The room was over it's capacity.  People were lined up against the walls and the screams were almost deafening, as Johnny walked out on stage.  As usual, he was humble.

"It's so good to be back home.  I just want to thank everybody in this room, because without you, I wouldn't have come this far.  My hit single, Don't Wanna, will be available in stores near you, in a couple of weeks, October 25th, to be exact."

The music started.  " I know there has been some requests, and I was gonna sing another song, initially…but sometimes you gotta follow your heart and let your feelings just flow.  So, I'm gonna give you what's on my heart tonight.....This one's for the lady of my life.  The lady I love."  He began to sing. 

"I never thought I'd feel this way ...baby until you came my way...

My life has changed.....in more ways than I can say....

Roni......Roni........I can't leave without you..

Baby please say you'll stay...."

Roni didn't fight the tears that streamed down her face.  All of her friends looked in her direction.  Angie put her arm around her and hugged her.  Daphne and Karla smiled at her.

The spotlight shined in her direction, as Johnny stepped down from the stage and grabbed her hand.  He continued to sing 

"I want the world to know.....that you're the one.........

Roni..................

marry me! marry me! oh mar-ry meeee!

baby let's start a fam-i-ly"

She was smiling from ear to ear, as he held her close and sang to her on stage, in front of everyone.  After the song was over, he looked into her eyes, then turned to look at the audience of emotional fans.  "That wasn't an act ya'll.  This is the woman I love.  I want the world to know."  He turned back to Roni, knelt on one knee , and reached into his pocket.

All of the females in the room were screaming wildly.  When their screams subsided momentarily, he opened the box.  "Veronica Carter, say yes.  Say you'll be my wife. Say you'll be in my life forever."

Roni looked into the audience at her friends.  All of them were smiling.  Angie was wiping her eyes.  "Yes, baby! I will!" she squealed.

He placed the ring on her finger. “I was made to love you,” he whispered into her ear.  They stood, oblivious to the cheering crowd,  softly kissing, in a loving embrace.

"That's my girl!" Angie screamed over the crowd.

Roni had taken Daphne's advice.  The man she loved had come back to propose to her.  Finally, she knew, there was nothing to fear.  Her love had come back to find her and this time she wasn't afraid of anything.  Neither was he.  Together, they were fearless and ready to be in it for the long haul.

Tony looked into Karla's teary eyes and squeezed her hand.  His expression was hopeful. Karla gave his hand a squeeze, in return.  She turned her head and gazed at him, with a look, that was equally hopeful.  She was sure that everything that was meant to happen for them, would do so in time. 

Deep in love, Jas and Daphne enjoyed a passionate kiss. There was no shame, no boundaries, and no holds barred.  The world mattered not, to the couple in total bliss.  

Angie was alone, by choice.  She was thankful for the lessons she’d learned and was content with her life, for the moment.  She knew that true love would find her one day, and it didn't matter the size of a man's wallet, but the depth of his love, and willingness to make a strong commitment to her.  

Roni‘s internal smile was just as real as the one she wore on her face.  She had finally gotten a love that was genuine.  The one she’d been waiting on for a lifetime.

Chapter 32

Epilogue

Inside Mount Calvary Church,  in New York city, Daphne, and Karla, assumed their positions as bridesmaids; and Angela, as maid of honor.  "Heaven" by Jamie Foxx, floated from the speakers.  The sacred altar was dimly lit by two ivory candelabras, and accented with beautiful pillars and an ivory and champagne balloon arch.  They watched in awe and elation as their best friend, Veronica Charmain “Roni” Carter,  walked down the aisle, to her waiting husband-to-be, and her new life as Mrs. Jonathan Albert Parker.