“No. I don’t want you all to come.”
“Why not?”
“Because I just don’t. I’ll only be in the hospital for two or three days and then I’ll do rehab for two or three weeks. I don’t want you to see me until I’m strong.”
“This is the stupidest idea I’ve heard come out of your mouth since that cruise to no-damn-where. We’re your friends, Poochie.”
“I know. And speaking of cruises, everything has been finalized, so don’t say shit, but you huzzies do not owe me a dime because I’ve already paid for the whole thing. Including a guest for each of you because this is the last time I think I’m going to be able to do this doggone cruise.”
“Have you lost your frigging mind?”
“Yes.”
“But why, Poochie?”
“Because I think it’s time for us to figure out somewhere we can go on dry land.”
* * *
—
“I’ve got some good news and some bad news,” Ko said as we finished walking around part of the Rose Bowl. This time I’d brought B. B. King. I could tell he was skeptical and jealous of how perky some of the other dogs were. He’d tried to trot like some of them who passed him, but he just ended up limping, then groaning, and then finally just dropped down. I bent down and rubbed his head and said, “It’s okay, B.B.”
I then shook my head as I looked up at Korynthia.
“Give me the bad news first, as long as it’s not something that will take me a long time to get over.”
“I don’t think I want to work at the House of Beauty when you have it back up and running.”
“This is the bad news?”
She looked disappointed that I wasn’t disappointed.
“Well, yeah. Don’t you want to know why?”
“I’m sure you have a good reason but okay, why?”
“Because I don’t know a damn thing about hair and makeup and beauty products. And with all the new services you want to offer, I just think it makes more sense for you to hire some foxy young girls instead of my old ass.”
“I agree.”
“You bitch!” she said and then we both started laughing.
“So, tell me the good news. Wait, don’t. I’ll take B.B. home and you keep running and meet me at my house when you’re done.”
“To be honest, I don’t really feel like running because I’m too excited about what I have to tell you. So, I’ll meet you at your crib in ten minutes.”
* * *
—
When I pulled into my driveway, I didn’t recognize the black Kia parked out front, but I did recognize Peggy. What in the world did this woman want and why didn’t she call me first?
I got out of my car and let B. B. King in the side door, then turned around and headed for her car. She was getting out of hers, too, and walking toward me like she was going to shoot me or something.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
“Well, hello to you, too, Loretha.”
“Did you forget how to call?”
“No, I did not.”
“Did something happen to my daughter?”
“No, she’s fine.”
I felt relieved, although I didn’t quite believe her and I knew she was up to something.
“Where is she?”
“At my house.”
“Speaking of which, could you please give me your address since you obviously have mine? And also, I have a friend on her way over here and we have something important to discuss, so could you please let me call you a little later?”
“Jalecia is pregnant.”
“Did you just say pregnant?”
“And she cannot and should not and does not want to keep it.”
“Why not?”
“Because she doesn’t know whose it is. She can’t remember.”
I saw Ko turn the corner, but when she saw the look on my face she just kept driving.
“So, what do you want me to do about it?”
“It’s about four hundred dollars plus add two or three hundred for rent.”
“Are you serious, Peggy?”
“Google it.”
“How many months is she?”
“She claims two, so probably three.”
“You drove all the way over here to tell me this?”
“I was in the neighborhood.”
I crossed my arms and put all my weight on one foot.
“Your daughter needs help, you know.”
“I thought she was going someplace to get clean. That’s what she told Cinnamon.”
“She goes to AA when she feels like it. But I’m not talking about that kind of help, Loretha.”
“Drugs?”
“I’m sure she does some of that, too, but I believe she’s suffering from depression. I just don’t know what kind. She doesn’t like to talk about how she feels. If you could get her some good health insurance, and she could talk to a doctor about this problem, it might help her get the other ones under control.”
I looked at her hard and I could tell she was not trying to bullshit me, that she really was concerned about my daughter.
“Thank you, Peggy. I want to help her, but I don’t know what kind of help she needs. And I still don’t. But maybe a doctor does.”
“Look, Loretha, I know you don’t like me, and you think I’m just pimping you for money. I’ve got a good pension, but it’s only enough for me. My niece has been costing me extra and I can’t afford to take care of her grown ass by myself. You feel me?”
“I feel you. You want to come in?”
“No.”
“So how do you want it?”
“You can use Western Union.”
“I would also appreciate if you would give me your address.”
“I thought I gave it to you before.”
“No, you didn’t.”
“I’ll text it to you right now.”
And she did.
“Can you send it today?”
“I suppose I can.”
“But get on top of the insurance, Loretha, because it might help you save your daughter’s life.”
And she got in her black Kia and sped off.
Pregnant.
And.
Depressed.
I just stood there and felt tears rolling down my face and then I heard myself yell after her: “I’ve been trying to help my daughter save her own life, but first she needs to know it’s worth saving! Bitch.”
When my doorbell rang later, I thought it was Korynthia returning but it was Cinnamon.
“Wave!” she turned and said to the babies who were in the back seat waving like windshield wipers on high. They were even cuter and fatter than the last time I saw them, and when they started laughing, if I wasn’t mistaken, those little white things pushing out on top of their gums looked like teeth.
“Hi, Grandma, we were just coming from Whole Foods and I thought I’d take a chance on dropping by. And guess what?” she asked, and then kissed me on both cheeks and gave me a squeeze.
“I can’t begin to guess, sweetie,” I said as I waved to the twins.
“A few weeks ago one of the producers at The Voice heard me singing and thinks I might have potential!”
“I’ve always felt this way, Cinna.”
“Well, I won’t be auditioning on camera anytime soon, but it was really nice to hear that.”
“Hey, I’ve been wanting to ask you: Who’s been watching Pretty and Handsome while you’re at work?”
“Aunt Odessa!”
“What did you just say?”
“Only for a few hours. Until Jonas gets home.”
“That’s nice,” I said, lying. Why didn’t they ask me? It’s not like my schedule was full
. “It’s awfully kind of her considering she’s never been around babies.”
“They like her! And I didn’t know Aunt Odessa could sing!”
“She can?”
“She’s got a great voice! Maybe I got my talent from her! Can you sing, Grandma?”
“No.”
“Anyway, keep your fingers crossed for me and invite us over soon because Pretty and Handsome would love to crawl around your hardwood floors and climb in your bathtub, but I have to put them down for their nap, and mine too!”
This made me laugh.
“Hey, Cinna? I have a surprise for you.”
“Can you give me a hint, Grandma?”
“Well, you know how Ma’s house is pretty much finished except for the crack in the pool? Well, once it’s fixed, I am also having a safety fence installed and I was thinking maybe you and Jonas and Pretty and Handsome might want to live there.”
She covered her mouth.
And then I saw tears falling from her eyes.
And then she hugged me.
And then she started jumping up and down and clapping.
And the twins started jumping up and down in their car seats and clapping, too.
“We’ve already been inside and we love the renovations!” she said.
“Who let you in?”
“Aunt Odessa. She still has a key. It’s our dream house, Grandma, and we don’t know what you would want us to pay each month but—”
“Nothing.”
And then she hugged me so hard my breasts flattened.
“You have a kind heart and soul to match, Grandma. Thank you thank you thank you and I can’t wait to tell Jonas!”
“I’ll let you know when everything is finished. But how soon do you think you would want to move in?”
“Would yesterday be too soon?”
And then she kissed me on both cheeks and my nose, and right after she left I went straight to Western Union.
* * *
—
“Is the coast clear?” Korynthia asked when I answered the phone.
“Yes and no,” I said. I was just lying across the bed and apparently had dozed off.
“Peggy wore you out, again, huh? What did she have to say?”
“Jalecia is pregnant.”
“No. Please don’t tell me she’s having a baby at forty-one years old?”
“She’s not. Can we talk later, Ko?”
“How much later?”
“You wanna come over and watch Netflix? We can order something from Grubhub and then you can tell me your good news.”
“I can’t. I have a date. Or, I should say, another date. With the same man. And this will make our fifth date and this is my good frigging news. I think I might be falling in love, Lo!”
I sat straight up. “Did I just hear you right, Ko?”
“Girl, yes you did. His name is Henry, but he doesn’t look like a Henry.”
“Is he black?”
“Yes.”
“How’d you meet him?”
“On my dating site, chile. Lo, whenever you feel like you’re ready to put yourself out there, you let me know. I will tell you how to find a date on this great senior site. No riffraff. Interesting older men who are still very much alive. Oh, I mean…I’m sorry for saying that.”
“No apologies necessary, Ko. I get it.”
“And he knows how to take just the right amount of Viagra, not like Mr. Roto-Rooter.”
“I can’t even believe this. But congratulations. So, when’s the wedding?”
“We haven’t decided yet.”
I jumped off the bed, then flopped back down. B. B. King sauntered in the room and looked at me as if to ask what all the excitement was about.
“What? I was just kidding. This is a lot for me to take in right now, Ko. So let me just digest it and then tell me again tomorrow so I can make sure it’s true.”
“Oh, it’s truer than true. And you know why? Because we don’t get a do-over and I have never been married and WTF, I’m going to do it. And if it lasts three weeks or three years what do I have to lose?”
“Does Henry have his own money?”
“Lots of it.”
“Good. That’s something. How old is he?”
“Sixty-five but he looks fifty-six!”
“Have you told the girls?”
“No. I don’t know if I want to yet. Poochie’s focusing on her surgery, and plus, she doesn’t understand anything about passion. I think Sadie is now celibate to make up for being a whore. And Lucky, well, she’s just too opinionated, which reminds me: Lucky has guaranteed that she’s finally having us for dinner at her house next week. And she’s cooking, hallelujah! Anyway, I’ll tell them about Henry once I know we’ve crossed the finish line. I know I can trust you to keep your mouth shut, can’t I?”
“I’m not even going to answer that. But this is exciting. I can’t even imagine having sex with anybody except Carl and I don’t care if I ever do.”
“He would want you to and one day you might want to, honey. You’re not dead down there, are you?”
“There are occasional stirrings.”
“Well, let me tell you: ain’t nothing like some warm arms around you and something warm and stiff inside you.”
“I think I still remember, Ko. But I’m good right now.”
“Can you let Poochie know about dinner?”
“I’ll text her. Her surgery isn’t until the week after next. She said she doesn’t want us to come to the hospital, so obviously we will be waiting for her in the recovery room.”
“And don’t worry, Lo. We’ll help you help Jalecia. She is going to be okay as long as you don’t give up on her.”
“I can’t. And I won’t. And I love you, Ko.”
“And I love you, too, huzzie. But I’m still only giving you a few more weeks to get your black behind in one of my hip-hop classes before I drag you myself.”
* * *
—
In the morning I called Dr. Alexopolous’s office.
“Hello, this is Loretha Curry.”
“I know, I can see your name on caller ID. What can I do for you, Mrs. Curry?”
“Are you new?”
“Yes, my name is Cecilia. Is there something I can help you with?”
“Well, it’s been a while since I’ve seen Dr. Alexopolous, and—”
“Actually, you’re due for your physical. Did you get our reminder by mail?”
“No, I didn’t.”
“I sent it over a week ago. Do you check your mail on a regular basis, Mrs. Curry?”
“Most of the time.”
She was getting on my nerves. And this felt more like an interrogation. She was not friendly enough to be a receptionist, but then, Dr. Alexopolous wasn’t friendly enough to be a doctor either. I’d just been too lazy to find another one. But soon.
“Well,” Cecilia said, and then I heard her say, “just fill that out and please don’t forget to turn it over.”
“Hello?” I said just for the hell of it.
“I’m so sorry, Mrs. Curry. I’m here alone. Anyway, we can schedule it now if you’d like. Are you having any medical issues the doctor should be aware of?”
“No.”
“Was there a reason for your call besides scheduling your checkup?”
“Now that you mention it, I was calling to ask about getting an order to take the A1C test.”
“No problem. I can see it’s been four months and the doctor suggests you have one every three months. Have you been feeling drowsy? Tired? Thirsty?”
“Sometimes, but not all the time.”
“That’s not good, Mrs. Curry. But I can send over a request for you right now.”
“Thank you.”
“Consider it done! And as soon as the doctor gets your results she’ll call if she’s concerned about anything.”
“Thank you.”
I made an appointment and as soon as I hung up made one for the A1C test. I could not believe I was able to get one for the next morning at six. I admit I was nervous because I had not been doing everything I should have been doing to deal with my disease, which is what it is. Truth be told, I hadn’t changed much of anything. I still ate the same foods, just not as often. I had not been exercising although I had been meaning to. I supposed that new number was going to tell me the truth. I knew I’d been bullshitting myself, but because being diabetic doesn’t hurt every day, it didn’t feel like I really had it.
But I promised myself I was going to do better.
Starting tonight.
Because right before I called the doctor’s office, I had had two thick pieces of French toast with butter, drenched with maple syrup, two strips of bacon, a glass of orange juice, and a cup of coffee. With two packets of Splenda.
* * *
—
I bought Jalecia the best insurance possible, but I used my address instead of Peggy’s. Jalecia still hasn’t wanted to see or talk to me. It’s been almost a week since Peggy came by. I was sitting on the front porch throwing a ball to B. B. King—who walked to get it—when Peggy called.
“First of all, Jalecia is not pregnant anymore.”
“Hello to you, too, Peggy.”
“Secondly, thank you for getting her insurance so fast. This is really good coverage. I’ve already been doing some research and, with this kind of plan, I’ll be able to find her a good psychologist or a psychiatrist. She’s probably going to need both.”
“How can you say that, Peggy?”
“Because they do two different things….”
“Wait a minute. You don’t know my daughter. You think you do. But you’re seeing her at her worst. And since you’re not a doctor, I would appreciate it if you would stop trying to diagnose her.”
“Okay. But when was the last time you spent any time around her, tell me that?”
“She has distanced herself from the entire family, including her daughter.”
It's Not All Downhill From Here Page 22
