Too Close for Comfort (19 page)

After posing for several shots, Yaya excused herself. “I'm about to grab something to eat before I start painting again.”

“Yeah, because it looks like she's ready.” Gabrielle pointed to the girl peeking from behind the stage.

Yaya walked over to her. “You don't have to do this. It's not a big deal.”

“No, I'm cool. I'm just glad I wore cute underwear.” The girl laughed.

“Join the club,” Yaya told her. “What's your name?”

“Miriam, but they call me Magic. And, no, I'm not a stripper; it's a nickname my mom gave me when I was born.”

“Okay, Magic, let me grab something to eat, and we can go ahead and get started, okay?”

“That's cool. Take your time. I won't be going anywhere.”

As Yaya was making her plate, Diesel walked up behind her and kissed her neck. “Baby, you know you are the best, right?”

“That's what they all say.” She turned around.

“I must admit, Diesel, this was a hot idea. Those guys are going crazy. I even got another girl to paint.”

“Who?” He stepped back. “I ain't paying for another chick.”

“Calm down, boy. I've already been paid.”

“By who?”

“Him.” Yaya pointed to the ballplayer who had commissioned her to paint Magic. He was standing at the other end of the buffet table, talking.

“I'm not surprised. Hell, he brought a couple of his girls for the guys to enjoy after they leave here.”

“What do you mean?—You make him sound like a pimp.” Yaya laughed and reached for another shrimp.

“I didn't say that.”

Yaya looked over and saw the girl who had declined to be painted earlier, standing with her arms folded. Yaya could see she still had an attitude.

“So, tell me, what does a brother have to do to get with you?” Yaya heard a guy ask as he walked up to the girl.

“Excuse me?” The girl scowled at him. “You don't have enough money to even smell this!”

“Girl, stop trippin'. I wasn't even talking about getting no ass. I was trying to take you out on the serious tip, but now that I see you're a ho, I changed my mind.”

The girl's face frowned even harder. “What did you call me?”

“I said you're a ho, your mama was a ho, and chances are, your mama's mama was a ho!” The guy laughed loudly now.

The girl raised the drink she was holding and tossed it into his face.

In a flash, the guy reached over and grabbed the buffet table and flipped it on the girl.

As if in a dream, Yaya stood and watched, unable to move.

The girl screamed, as she crumbled to the floor, her face and body covered in food.

Glass shattered, and people began rushing over to see what had happened. Security came from nowhere, grabbing both the guy and the girl and escorting both of them out of the club.

“Yo, you a'ight?” Diesel asked.

“Huh?” Yaya was still stunned by what had taken place.

“Yaya!”

“Yeah, I'm good.”

Yaya could feel someone staring at her, making her uncomfortable. She turned to see Jason's best friend, Travis Thorne, standing with a smug grin on his face.

“What do you want?—It's late, and Myla's asleep.”

“I just called to give you my new information.”

“What new information?”

“I moved out.”

“What? When?”

“Two days ago.”

Paige sat back, stunned at what Marlon had just told her. She couldn't believe it. “So what happened?”

“Nothing major. I just got tired, I guess. I never loved Kasey anyway, you know that.”

“What about the baby?”

“What about it? I'm gonna take care of my responsibilities. I don't have to be with her in order to do that; you should know that, of all people.”

“And what about your mother?”

“What about her? She has what she wants now—a full-time nurse, a maid, a companion, and a grandchild all in one.” He laughed.

“That's not funny, Marlon. Where are you gonna live?”

“I got an apartment.”

“That's crazy.”

“When is Myla's first game?”

“Saturday after next.”

“I know she's excited. When I talked to her the other day, soccer was all she could talk about.”

“Yeah, I'm sick of hearing about it myself,” Paige told him. It was as if Myla walked, talked, and breathed soccer.

“I'm glad you let her play. You are doing a great job with her, Paige; I know I don't tell you that often enough.”

Paige could see where the conversation was headed. “Thanks, Marlon. Look, I'll see you at the game in a couple of weeks. I'm glad you are getting yourself together.”

She hung up the phone and flipped the TV on. She didn't even realize she had fallen asleep, until Camille walked through the door.

Camille had been working so hard, that she hardly ever saw her. “Girl, you scared me.” Camille laughed, putting her keys on the coffee table.

“You must've been up to no good then,” Paige told her. “How's work?”

“Work is wonderful!” Camille smiled. “I love it. I love working with Taryn, and I'm learning so much. It's great!”

“That's good. But, Cam, I'm telling you, August is right around the corner, and you're going back to school. There's no way I'm going to let you just throw away a free college education. You worked hard for that scholarship. Not only that, but Marlon worked hard helping you as well. You don't want to disappoint him.”

Camille looked down at the floor. “I know, Paige. Speaking of Marlon . . . he moved out.”

“I know. He called and told me.” Paige sighed.

“Mama has been calling my phone all day leaving crazy messages. She says that we abandoned her and she hates both of us. She says, without her, I'm never going to be anything, like she has anything to do with how far I've come in life so far.”

Paige walked over to Camille and hugged her. It was no secret that Lucille was an awful mother. Paige had witnessed and experienced the worst of times with Camille and her mother, but she also knew that Lucille's words still hurt.

The pain in Camille's face when she told Paige about her mother's messages, was obvious.

“Cam, she was drunk. I don't even have to listen to the messages to know that.”

“But that's when she's the most honest, Paige . . . when she's all liquored up.” Camille shook her head.

Paige hated Lucille for the damage she was still causing in Camille's life. Even though Camille had moved out and moved on with her life, Lucille continued to menace the girl.

“The sad part is, no matter what I do, how far I try to get away from her, she still won't just leave me the hell alone.”

“Camille, there's nothing you can do or say to change your mother or her ways; she's just her. What you can do is continue to move ahead and do the right thing and prove her wrong—that's revenge of the best kind. She can't take away your success, no matter how hard she tries. You've got to know that what God has for you is for you, and your mother and no one else can take that away from you. Believe me, I know,” Paige said with tears in her eyes. “I don't care what anybody says or does, you are meant to walk in greatness, no matter what. Your happiness is ordained!”

“Are you talking to me?” Camille laughed. “For a minute, it sounded like you were talking to yourself.”

“You know what, Cam, if I wasn't, maybe I shoulda been.” Paige smiled.

“You know, I was gonna mention that to you.” Camille smirked.

“Don't even try it.”

“I don't know who was crazier, Quincy for letting you go or Marlon for not holding on to you,” Camille said. “You are one in a million.”

Paige thought about what Camille said. It was one of the greatest compliments anyone had ever given her, and she realized that she was right. She had been having a pity party of her own, thinking that there was something wrong with her, when it was Marlon's and Quincy's loss. One thing she was determined not to lose was her relationship with her mother.

 

 

“What are you doing here?” Aunt Gayle asked, when Paige walked in the following morning.

“I'm here to see my mother. Where is she?”

“She's not here.”

Paige raised her eyebrow. “Her car's outside.”

“She walked up to the church for a little while,” Aunt Gayle answered.

Paige looked over at her aunt and saw just how pathetic she was. She looked much older than her fifty-two years, in her short, faded-red Afro and usual attire of elastic waist pants and an oversize flowered blouse. Paige knew that was exactly how Celeste would look at that age, and she felt sorry for both of them.

“How're you feeling?”

“I'm making it.” Aunt Gayle, surprised by the question, looked at Paige.

“You're here alone? Where's Celeste?”

“She ran out to the store to get me some herbal tea. She'll be back in a few minutes.”

“Well, I can sit with you until she returns.”

“No, I'll be fine.” Aunt Gayle began looking nervous. “You go ahead on up to the church. Your mother is there.”

“No, its fine, Aunt Gayle. I can stay for a few minutes.” Paige sat in a chair.

“Well, I'm a bit tired. I was about to go get in the bed and take a nap.” Aunt Gayle stood up so quickly, that she nearly lost her balance.

Paige quickly jumped up and caught her aunt by the arms to prevent her from falling. “Aunt Gayle, what is the matter with you?”

The door opened and Celeste walked inside.

“What are you doing to my mother?”

“She was about to fall. She got up too fast off the chair.”

“I told her I was going to be fine and she could go ahead and leave,” Aunt Gayle said nervously.

“Yeah, Paige, I'm here now,” Celeste said. “You can go and leave us alone.”

Paige looked at both of them and wondered what was going on. They were both acting like two teenage girls who had been caught smoking and trying to cover up the scent. She looked at the two pathetic women and decided that finding her mother was more important than being around them.

“Well, take care of yourself, Aunt Gayle.”

“I will.”

“You want me to call your mother and tell her you're on your way?” Celeste escorted Paige toward the door.

“No, I can just go up there. By the time you talk to her, I'll be there.”

“Good-bye,” they both said to each other.

Paige got into her car and drove the four blocks to the church. Her mother was making copies in the church office when she arrived.

“Hey, Mama.”

“Well, isn't this a nice surprise.” Paige's mother gave her a kiss on the cheek.

“I went by the house and Aunt Gayle told me you were here.” Paige sat in a nearby empty chair.

“Yes, I had to run up here and run these programs off for Sister Amelia's funeral day after tomorrow.”

“Sister Amelia died? Wow! What was she, like a hundred and three?”

“Shut your mouth, Paige Micheals.” Her mother laughed. “You know she was only ninety-two.”

“Close enough.”

“Yes, she lived a full life.” Her mother picked up the program and looked at it. “Lived to see her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.”

“A little while longer and she woulda seen her great-great grandchildren—you know that Aisha is buck wild.”

“Shhh . . . be quiet. You know someone may hear you. She was truly blessed, though. I pray the Lord lets me live long enough to experience that.”

“He will, Mama.” Paige picked up some of the programs and began helping her mother fold them.

“I'm having a hard enough time dealing with you and Myla. I don't know if I can take a third generation.”

“What's wrong with me?”

“You're stubborn like your father—Everything has to be your way, and you never want to see things from anyone else's perspective. Your being an only child has something to do with that, too, though.”

“I don't try to be difficult, Mama, I swear, but it's like you don't see what Aunt Gayle and Celeste are trying to do.”

“They can't do no more than what you allow them to do, Paige. If you know they're trying to annoy you and get under your skin, then don't let them. The madder you get and the harder you fight, the more they win. Look at how you looked at the brunch at Meeko's house—
You
looked like the crazy one.”

“Mama, if you knew half the things Celeste was doing—”

“I know what she's doing. I also know you're giving her all the ammunition; all she's doing is pulling the trigger. You gotta learn how to handle things differently, think smart.” Her mother tapped on the side of her head. “I know you're brilliant, Paige—I ain't raise no dumb child. You just gotta learn to use it.”

“I feel you, Mama. Are you almost done here? I can drive you home.”

“Just about. Let me lock this office up, and then we can go back to the house. If you're in a hurry, you can go ahead. The walking does me good.”

“Nonsense, Mama.”

Paige waited for her mother.

As they got into the car, she told her, “Aunt Gayle and Celeste were acting all crazy.”

“What else is new?” Her mother laughed. “Lord knows, they've been getting on my nerves. I love my sister and all, but I can't take having her complaining about my house much longer. And that Celeste, that girl is so lazy. I don't see how she keeps that job they're always bragging about. She never goes to work, always complaining about a headache—you'd think she was the one on dialysis, rather than Gayle.” Her mother sighed.

Paige laughed so hard that her side began to hurt.

They arrived at the house to find a car sitting out front.

“Who is that?” Paige asked.

“Gayle probably got one of her bingo friends over here visiting.” Her mother got out the car.

They could hear loud laughing as they walked toward the house.

“Told you it had to be one of her loud friends.” Jackie opened the door and stepped inside.

The laughter stopped immediately.

Paige walked behind Jackie to see what had caused her to stop at the doorway. She looked around her mother's living room. Her heart was beating so fast and hard that she thought she was about to fall out. Red and white spots appeared before her eyes, and she kept blinking to make sure she was seeing correctly.

“What the hell are you doing in my house?”

“Jackie! Don't you stand there and disrespect my guests like that,” Aunt Gayle told her.

“You need to get outta my house right now!”

“Aunt Jackie, please . . . I told them they could come by and visit for a little while,” Celeste said. “It's my fault.”

Paige remained quiet. She knew that if she opened her mouth, she may have ended up putting her hands on someone and going to jail.

“I don't give a damn whose fault it is. I'm telling both of you to get out of my house.”

“I see your daughter got her ill manners honestly!”

Paige shook her head, trying to step past her mother.

Jackie put her hand up. “It's okay. I got this.”

“Ms. Micheals, we didn't mean to cause any trouble.”

“The only trouble will be if you don't hurry up and get the hell out of here before I throw both of you out!” Jackie took a step forward.

“Let's go, Ms. Lucille.” Kasey stood up, her fat body wobbling.

Paige's eyes fell on her stomach, which now had a slight bulge to it. She honestly couldn't tell if it was fat or the child she was carrying.

“You don't have to leave, Lucille,” Aunt Gayle said. “You sit right there. Jackie, let me talk to you in the kitchen for a moment.”

“You don't need to talk to me; we don't have anything to talk about—you need to be talking to them, so they can get the hell out of my house!”

“I can't believe you're acting like this. Kasey and Lucille haven't done anything to you. Now, if this is the way you're going to treat the people who come and check on me in my time of need, then maybe we don't need to be staying with you.” Aunt Gayle was now standing directly in front of Jackie.

“You're right—you need to get your shit and get the hell out with them!”

Paige could not believe her mother let the word come out of her mouth. Never in her entire life had she heard a curse word, other than
damn
or
hell
, come from those lips.