A Li'l Dab of Drama

by LaJill Hunt

  "What the fuck are you doing?" He frowned at her as she slipped the ring off her finger and held it out to him.

  "I'm doing what needs to be done," she sighed.

  For the fourth time, I'm doing what needs to be done.

  "So you're ending what we have over this nigga and yet, you swear ain't nothing going on between you two. Ain't this a …"

  Sabrina shook her head, "It is what it is, Mason. I can't do this anymore. I've told you over and over again that I'm not that chick. I'm not her!"

  "What? What chick?" He continued to stare at the ring without taking it.

  "I'm not the type of woman who sneaks off behind your back and disrespects neither you nor what we have. I'm not the one who is always looking for the next best thing, or checking to see if the grass is greener. If I'm with you, I'm with you. I have tried and tried to explain it to you over and over again, but I get it now," she reached and grabbed his hand, forcing it open and pushing the ring into his sweating palm.

  Please God, let me be doing the right thing, because right now, the fact that I'm standing before this fine ass, gainfully employed, intelligent, charismatic specimen of a man who loves me, and giving him this ring back, seems crazy as hell.

  "What needs to be done is you need to leave Khalil's ass alone, Sabrina. That's all I'm asking you to do," he pleaded with her, "He wants you. You can't see what I see. A man knows."

  "And a woman knows, Mason," she shrugged. She had told Mason early on in their relationship that she didn't believe in arguing in a relationship, and it was something she just didn't do. Sabrina hated tension, and refused to feed into situations that she knew would possibly lead to an argument. She didn't get the whole yelling and screaming, back and forth thing while trying to prove a point. Sabrina would simply listen, reply, and move on; simple as that.

  Mason's forehead wrinkled and he took a step back and stared at her. She looked into his eyes and searched for some sort of clue, some sign that would send a signal to her heart that maybe it could work. But there was nothing but peace. Peace and a sense of sadness that she knew would eventually pass.

  "So, what, this is it? It's just over? Just like that?"

  Sabrina just nodded and again, reached out for him.

  "Fine then, Sabrina, if this is the way you want it," Mason brushed her and paused before opening the door, "The sad part about this Sabrina, is that I really thought you were the one."

  "I am the one, Mason," Sabrina replied, "I'm just not the one for you."

  Sabrina

  "Happy New Year Fam!"

  "Hey baby, Happy New Year," her father, Johnny Nick, stood and gave her a hug. Sabrina couldn't help feeling like a four year old as she squeezed her arms around him. She had always been and always would be a Daddy's Girl.

  "Hey Daddy, Happy New Year," she said, then leaned down and gave her mother a kiss on the cheek, "Hi Mommy, Happy New Year."

  "Same to you, baby," her mother grinned. The scent of Oscar de La Renta filled Sabrina's nostrils. Frances Chambers had worn the same perfume for years and refused to change. Her husband and children realized this after several years of buying her other scents. Frances had been grateful, but she still had yet to wear anything other than her infamous Oscar de la Renta. All three of her children had inherited Frances' good looks: Tennille and Sabrina both had her high cheek bones, dark piercing eyes and dimpled smile. But where Tennille and her mother shared the same deep copper complexion, Nicholas and Sabrina were the smooth, chestnut brown color of their father.

  "And Happy Anniversary to you both!" Sabrina smiled, pulling a card out of her Coach purse and handing it to her father.

  "Awwww, Brina, thank you!" Her father pulled her into his arms again and squeezed her.

  "What's up, Aunt Brina!"

  "Boy, you better get up and give me a kiss!" Sabrina pulled her adorable eleven year old nephew out of his chair and kissed his dimpled cheeks. He was the spitting image of her sister and her heart melted every time she saw him, "Mook! Mook!"

  Marquise frowned and tried to escape her grasp, "Aunt Brina, come on, this is not cool!"

  "I remember a time not so long ago when you weren't too cool to kiss your auntie, Mook!" She laughed.

  "Brina, leave that boy alone," Nick laughed, motioning for his nephew to return to his seat.

  "Ewww, you got stuff on your lips," Marquise wiped the shiny lip prints off his cheeks, causing the family to laugh even harder.

  "So, where is Mason?" Her mother asked looking toward the door. Sabrina looked over at Nick, whose eyes were on the now empty ring finger of her left hand.

  "Ohhh snap! Another one bites the dust!" Her brother grinned, then turned to Tennille with his hand held out, and said, "Pay up, sucker. Hahaha!"

  "Pay what?" Sabrina snapped, "I know y'all ain't place bets!"

  "Not bets, more like a small wager," Nick winked.

  "That better not be what your brother is talking about," her mother shook her head and glanced over at Tennille and Nick.

  Her sister was so busy reaching into her purse and taking out her wallet that she didn't even notice their mother's stare, "I can't believe this. I swear, Nick, I thought this time…"

  "You placed bets on my engagement? Now that's just…"

  "Wrong," Sabrina's mother finished her sentence for her, "You both owe your sister an apology."

  "I'm sorry, Brina. But at least I didn't bet against you, like some other people," Tennille looked over at her father.

  "Daddy!"

  "Johnny, I don't believe you," her mother swatted her father on the arm.

  "It was all done in fun and in love, Sweetie," her father smiled.

  "Hey, at least I put my money on you," Tennille passed her brother and father each a ten dollar bill. A lot of good that did me."

  "Y'all are just wrong," Sabrina shook her head, "Placing bets on my love life, like it's some kind of game."

  "Hey, don't get mad at me cause the odds of love are against you, Sis," Nicholas said, folding the money and putting it into his pocket "They're against me too."

  "That's not true, Nicholas. I'm not even gonna let you sit here and say that," their mother frowned, "Give me that money."

  "The odds of love aren't against me," Sabrina suddenly felt the need for a drink. It was only eleven fifteen in the morning, and she rarely drank in front of her parents, but none of that mattered at that moment. There's no way I'm gonna be able to deal with Ten and Nick if I don't have a drink. She motioned for their waitress, "Can I get a Ciroc and lemonade?"

  "Dag, hard liquor in the morning?" Nick grinned, "I guess I struck a nerve."

  "Nicholas, help Marquise make his plate," their mother commanded.

  Nicholas didn't hesitate as he stood up, "Come on, Mook. Let's go get our grub on."

  "Johnny, baby, make sure you get me some of that ham," Frances turned and lovingly stroked her husband's hand, slipping the ten out and passing both bills to Sabrina.

  "I guess that's my cue to leave too," their dad nodded. The three males headed off to the crowded buffet line.

  "Make sure he gets some vegetables on his plate," Tennille called after them.

  "Ten, it's breakfast. Why would he get vegetables?" Sabrina shook her head.

  "Actually, it's brunch. He needs to put something healthy on his plate," Tennille answered, "other than chicken."

  Sabrina laughed. There was nothing in this world Marquise loved more than chicken. He really didn't have a choice since that seemed like the only think Tennille ate while she was pregnant. Fried, baked, broiled, barbequed, grilled, boiled, roasted, stewed, braised, fricasseed, as long as it was chicken, Tennille was gobbling it. She ate so much chicken, that they just knew Marquise was going to come out clucking and he should have been named 'Colonel'.

  "Leave that baby alone," Frances smiled, "Chicken is good for him."

  The waitress returned with Sabrina's drink and before she could place it on the table, Sabrina took it from her and took a long swallow.
The smoothness sent off an instant relief within her and she felt her body relax. Okay, that's better.

  "Well?" Tennille asked.

  "Well what?" Sabrina asked as if she had no idea what her sister was referring to.

  "You know what," Tennille gave her a knowing look, "What did poor Mason do?"

  "Shut up, Ten," Sabrina rolled her eyes, "It's not even like that. And while we're getting all in my business, where is your husband?"

  "Working, and at least I actually have one" Tennille sat back in her chair, "I'm trying to help you figure out how to get one. Now talk."

  "I hate you," Sabrina squinted.

  "Sabrina you don't hate your sister, so don't say that," Frances sighed, "Tennille, just let her explain what happened. Go ahead, baby."

  The question of Sabrina even wanting to explain what happened obviously hadn't crossed neither one of their minds. It also hadn't crossed Sabrina's mind either. She knew if she didn't explain, they would harass the hell out of her until she did. At least her mother had been gracious enough to excuse the men from the table. Not that that mattered either because one thing about the Chambers family, if one person knew, the entire family knew.

  "I just realized that it wasn't gonna work," Sabrina shrugged, "I wanted it to. I really did."

  "I don't understand. Mason is such a sweet guy," Tennille said, "Great job, smart, nice looking. But then again, so were all the rest of your ex-fiancées."

  "So, what are you saying, Ten?" Sabrina glared at her older sister who always seemed to have a permanent chip on her shoulder these days. The vibrant, vivacious woman who smiled all the time seemed to be buried somewhere within and Sabrina had been sensing something was off for a while. On the outside, Tennille was still as beautiful as ever, but there was a slight dullness about her.

  "I'm saying that maybe you need to re-evaluate what's really going on. You're developing a pattern," Tennille replied.

  "First of all, I know what's going on. Let's get that straight right now," Sabrina felt herself becoming angry by the minute. What the hell is that supposed to mean? Re-evaluate?

  "Tennille, that's enough. And why are you taking your sister's breakups so personal?" Frances frowned.

  "Thanks, Ma. I'm sitting here wondering the same thing," Sabrina said.

  "I'm not taking anything personal, especially not her breakupssssss," Tennille stressed the 's' at the end of the word.

  "Sabrina, I think Tennille is right about one thing, there is a pattern here," Frances gave Sabrina a knowing look, "So, what was the problem with Mason? You two seemed happy."

  "In a sense, we were happy, Ma. But then again, how happy am I if I have to explain my every move to the man I love? How happy can I be if I have to defend every relationship I have and jump through hoops to prove that I really want to be with you and only you?" Sabrina stated, "He wasn't the one. He just wasn't."

  She saw the understanding in her mother's eyes, and knew that breaking up with Mason was the right thing to do.

  "If that's the case, then I'm glad you realized it before it was too late" her mother smiled at her.

  "I still don't understand what brought about this great epiphany?" Tennille frowned, "Mason's had you on a short leash forever, that's nothing new. What happened? Details, please!"

  Just as she was about to speak, a loud voice seemed to come out of nowhere, "Looks like we came to the right place at the right time, baby. Look who's here!"

  Sabrina cringed as she looked up to see Khalil and his fiancee coming toward the table, "Oh no, not now!"

  "Khalil!" Her mother smiled and stood up to greet him with a big hug, "It's so good to see you!"

  "You too, Mama C!" Khalil kissed her on the cheek.

  "K-Boogie, man what's the deal!" Nick said with a wide grin as he returned to the table along with her father and Marquise, who were equally excited to see Khalil. Before Sabrina knew it, her father had invited Khalil and his date to join them and they were making room at the table.

  "I'm going to make my plate," Sabrina stood up and motioned the waitress for another drink. She turned to her sister and nodded toward Khalil who was teasing Marquise, "By the way, that's what happened!"

  Tennille

  "Oh my God, Tennille, they're gorgeous!" Bianca, the bride, gushed.

  "Wow," was the only word Darrell, the groom could utter.

  Tennille knew the instant she saw the pictures, the newlywed couple would be pleased. She had captured moments of the wedding that normally wouldn't even seem relevant. Brief, intimate snapshots of their perfect day included a close up shot of the crystal studded sandals Bianca wore, a photo of Bianca's wedding ring precisely placed in the middle of her bouquet, a picture of Darrell's grandmother dabbing tears from her eyes as the minister prayed over the couple.

  "I'm glad you like them," Tennille smiled.

  "I can't believe you got all these great shots. I didn't even realize you were taking pictures half the time," Darrell told her.

  "That's because the only person you noticed was her," Tennille pointed to Darrell, "And that's the only person you were supposed to notice."

  "That's right," Bianca nodded, "I'm the one and only woman you're supposed to be noticing!"

  "Don't worry, Darrell, she couldn't take her eyes off you either," Tennille said, "Look at that picture right there."

  Darrell reached over and stared at the picture of him talking to one of the guests. Bianca was standing right beside him, securely tucked in his arms, staring at him as if she was hanging on to his every word. They looked as if they were made for each other.

  "I don't see how we're gonna decide which ones to buy," Bianca shrugged and stared at her new husband. The cute couple was still glowing from their Caribbean honeymoon cruise, "Awww, Darrell, look at this one with your brothers."

  "I'll give you guys a moment to decide," Tennille stood up.

  "Naw, we know what we want," Darrell said.

  "No, we don't. Darrell, what are you talking about?" Bianca looked over at him.

  "We'll take all of them," he said, smiling.

  "Darrell, we can't afford all of these pictures," Bianca shook her head.

  "Baby, what did you tell me the entire time you were planning our wedding and I said we couldn't afford something?" Darrell reached over and put his arm around her.

  Bianca smiled, "I said that there were some things we couldn't afford not to do."

  "We can't afford not to get all these pictures," Darrell pressed his forehead against hers.

  Tennille watched the exchange between the two of them and smiled. They got it, she thought, I see it, it's there. She had been taking wedding photos for a decade, and as a full time professional for the past three years. Not only did she have a gift of capturing precise moments on film, but she had also developed a sixth sense for those couples that had a level of love that was so deep, it radiated. Unable to resist, she worked out a deal for the happy couple to purchase all the photos.

  "Another satisfied couple?" Chastity, her new office manager and assistant asked as Tennille walked Darrell and Bianca out of the studio.

  "Of course," Tennille replied, "They purchased every last shot."

  "Wow, I knew they had to be balling to hire you," Chastity gave her a knowing look, "But I didn't know they were balling like that."

  Tennille shrugged and admitted, "I gave them a deal."

  "I figured that. So, you let them get everything for what? Four?"

  "Thirty-seven."

  "Thirty-seven? That's not a deal, that's a steal!" Chastity shook her head. "Those pictures were worth way more."

  Tenille was pleased. 'Perfect Ten Photography' had come a long way since she opened five years ago. When she started, she only booked two to three weddings a month and charged a couple hundred dollars. Since then, Tennille had become one of the most sought after wedding photojournalists on the East coast not only doing weddings, but also magazine and advertising layouts. The starting price for her wedding packages was now over
three thousand dollars and she was booked nearly a year in advance.

  * * * * * * * * * *

  Thirty-Five years, that's a long time, Tennille thought as she looked at the pictures of her parents that she took at their anniversary brunch. They had been married as many years as she had been alive, barely. She would be celebrating her thirty-fifth birthday on Valentines Day. She stared at the happy couple who raised her and smiled. True love. They were so happy, always had been. She continued flipping through the pictures of her family. Sabrina stared back at her in the next photo, looking as gorgeous as ever, perfectly poised with their parents. At times, she wondered if her sister was crazy and would ever make it down the aisle. It was as if she would meet these great guys and accept their proposals, get the ring and then miraculously realize that they weren't "Mr. Right" and break it off. Mason had been fiancee number four in the past five years. I hate to be the one to tell you, Brina, but perfect ain't possible. The next picture was of Nick, Marquise and her father, all three men sharing the same mischievous grin. Her brother was a self proclaimed, bonafide player. He barely dated the same girl twice, and had come to the conclusion that he was destined to be single and satisfied the rest of his life. As far as Tennille was concerned, both her brother and sister had issues, serious ones, unlike herself.