by Jahquel J
“Well, you look fine as f… beautiful,” I caught my words before I cursed in front of this boy.
“Thank you, Yoshon. Did your business meeting go well?”
“Yeah, it went as expected. Business is business. Did you show Gyan his room and sh.. stuff?” Eva had me so pissed the fuck off that I couldn’t stop cursing. It was hard to turn the shit off when I was pissed already. The way she showed her ass tonight had me ready to delete her damn number and change my fucking bank.
“Glad everything worked out for you.” She took a sip of champagne.
“I see you got acquainted with my big head sis in law.”
“Ugh, you tried it. I was telling her to come to the salon and let me hook her up,” Hazel replied.
“My sister would have been here, but she probably handling business and couldn’t make it.” I didn’t bother to call Yolani because I knew she wouldn’t come, or she would come late and pissed Pit Pat off.
“Yeah, you know how business comes first for her. I haven’t seen her since the other day. We’re like two ships passing in the night,” Hazel went on to spill her marital issues to us.
“Word.” What else she wanted me to say?
“Business comes first in your marriage? I’ve been in a relationship like that, and it’s not fun,” Golden told her.
“It’s not fun. We’re w—”
“Okay, dinner is served,” Pit Pat announced as she had the only housekeeper she trusted to bring out our food.
Rolanda worked twice a week, and those were the days that Pit Pat went over to Yolani’s house to make sure things were together with her house. Usually, she would stay the night after cleaning her entire house, doing laundry and cooking. Telling our grandmother, she didn’t have to care for us was like telling her we didn’t need her fucking help, so we didn’t. I understood that this was what made her happy, so I allowed her to do what made her happy. She spent so many years sacrificing to raise us, that whatever made her happy was what I allowed her to do.
“Rolanda, I know you’re staying for dinner?”
She smiled and shook her head. “Ms. Santana has tried to convince me to stay. I have to get home to my babies and get them ready for school tomorrow. Enjoy, and set me a plate to the side.” She placed all the dishes down on the table.
“Alright, we’ll put a plate to the side for you.” I winked, and she headed out of the dining room. Pit Pat sat down at the head of the table and smiled at all of us.
“We’re just missing my Lani. You will bring her a plate home, okay?” She stared at Hazel and she nodded her head.
We all said grace and then started fixing our own plates. All that could be heard was the sound of the silver against the glass plates and bowls. Golden fixed Gyan a plate and then stared at me.
“Sit, I’ll fix you one,” she demanded and leaned over the table to fix the food onto my plate. I couldn’t front like my eyes didn’t land on her ass in that dress she wore. The shit was sitting up and her waist looked as if she didn’t give birth to this boy sitting beside me.
“Pit Pat, one second and I’ll fix yours too. It’s only right since you prepared all of this food,” she told Pit Pat and smiled.
Pit Pat was one for arguing about how much she could for herself, but this time, she remained quiet and allowed her to fix my plate and then fix hers too. “Well, shit, you can go ahead and add some oxtail gravy on my white rice,” Hazel joked.
Golden reached across and placed the gravy over her rice. “It’s the least I could for all of you. You both opened your home to me, and for that, I’m forever grateful,” she spoke as she sat down.
“Thank you, Golden. I appreciate it.” Pit Pat smiled and held her wine glass up. We all held our glasses up and did a quick toast before eating our food.
Pit Pat spoke about everything under the sun and Golden ate it up. Me and Hazel heard the stories a million times. Even Gyan chimed in a few times to ask if she was really raised around goats and sheep. I continued to eat and kept stealing glances at Golden as she ate and engaged in conversation with my grandmother. It was something about this woman. Her beauty, her poise, and conversation intrigued me. Even in her current predicament, she didn’t carry herself like less than. Still, she stood with her poise and head held high as she engaged in conversation. If I was a guest, I would have never assumed this woman was sleeping her car two days ago. Her name fit, because her essence was Golden.
After dinner, I kissed and hugged Hazel and told her to let me know when she made it home. Then, I headed to my office. With the door opened, I could hear Pit Pat and Golden still talking like old buddies. I logged onto my computer and checked sales reports and shit like that. Then I went to search for old abandoned properties that were foreclosed on. Flipping houses was something I always wanted to get into. With my hands in so much shit, I don’t know what was holding me back. With all the money I had, there was no need to push drugs or guns. The reason I kept it around was because of Yolani. This life wasn’t for her; she couldn’t be in suits and holding business meetings. She wanted to be in the streets and getting it the illegal way. College was what I wanted for my baby sis, yet she had other plans. Yolani wanted to be a bully in the streets, which she was. She wanted people to fear her and it was more about the fear than the money. Seeing my mom’s get bodied in her bedroom, really fucked her up.
“Good night, baby,” Pit Pat came around the desk and kissed me on the forehead. “That Golden is a beautiful, but pained woman.” She hugged me.
“I heard you both chopping it up in there. Everything put up?”
“No, she made me go upstairs and rest. These old feet are swelling.” She pulled her skirt up to reveal her feet.
“Yeah, the party is done for you. Go on and get some rest. Tomorrow, you don’t need to get up for breakfast.”
“Yosh—”
“No! I have one Pit Pat, and I can have a million Johnny cakes, anytime. But, I can’t have a million you.”
She did her favorite expression and pursed her lips before kissing me on my forehead again and carried herself upstairs. I knew she wouldn’t listen, but it felt nice to tell her what to do for once. It felt like it had been ten minutes since Pit Pat headed upstairs, but it had really been two hours. Shutting down my computers, I heard glasses clink in the kitchen and went to investigate. When I rounded the corner, Golden was sitting at the counter enjoying a glass of wine. Her eyes were closed as she enjoyed every sip. When her eyes opened, they landed on me, and she removed the glass from her lips.
“I probably look foolish, huh? I haven’t had a good wine in months. The only relief I get is a cheap beer,” she giggled. “Want a glass?”
Nodding my head, I walked around the island, leaned back and watched as she moved around my kitchen like she had been doing so for years. She located a glass and poured me a glass and returned to her seat.
“How did you enjoy dinner?”
“It was delicious. It was all Gyan spoke about before bed. We’re so appreciative of you and your grandmother.” She made sure to mention.
“You serving us during dinner didn’t prove that?” I snickered, and she flipped her middle finger at me. “There she is.”
“Who?”
“The smart ass. You polish up around my grandmother, huh?”
“I have respect.” She took a sip of her wine.
“Oh, is that what you call that? Would you like anything, Pit Pat?” I mocked her and she rolled her eyes at me.
“So, you’re going to clown because I have respect? What about you, Dapper Dan? You’re dressed way dressy than I remember meeting you two days ago.”
“Can’t be dressed down all the time, right?”
“I guess.” She poured more wine into her glass and savored the taste. “How did your date go?”
“Date?” How the fuck did she know?
“Pit Pat told me about your girlfriend.”
“She’s a friend, not my girlfriend.”
“Does she know t
hat?”
“Wouldn’t be here tonight if she didn’t.”
“Well, like I told Pit Pat, I just want to do what I have to do so I can provide for my son. I don’t want her to get upset with me or think this is anything more than you helping me out.”
“You’re good. About providing for your son. I’ve been needing an assistant for a minute. What you think of helping me out?”
“Oh, so you don’t need me at the tanning salon? I’m a little offended,” she laughed.
“Nah, I need you to skim through applications to hire the staff there. The pay is well, and I’m sure you’ll be able to afford something in a few months.”
Looking around the kitchen, she smiled. “Well, it’s not like I’m staying at a shelter for the time being.”
“Right.”
“I accept the job and when can I start?”
“Now. I need some ice.”
“Yeah, alright. I’m about to go to sleep and get up so I can beat Pit Pat in this kitchen. You see her feet? She shouldn’t be cooking nothing.”
“She hard headed. Tomorrow, you can drop Gyan off to school in the BMW.”
Her eyes widened, and she looked at me as if I lost my mind. “Seriously?”
“Yeah, I need you to stop in the city at Saks to pick me up a suit my personal shopper pulled for me. Find some matching shoes too. Starbucks when you return too. Chai latte.”
“Noted. Have a good night, Mr. Santana.” She smiled and headed upstairs. Her ass switched back and forth as she headed out the kitchen and I enjoyed the view.
Guzzling two more cups of wine, I headed upstairs to shower and relax before morning came. I had a funeral to attend for one of my street soldiers. He was sixteen and had his entire life ahead of him. Yolani fought me tooth and nail to allow him to sell work for her. This was the nasty side of the business that people didn’t see. Paying for the funeral and paying my respect was the least I could do for the family. After showering, I climbed in bed, closed my eyes and tried to get some rest. That beauty down the hall made it damn near impossible to do so.
10
Hazel
“Damn, feel like I haven’t seen you in mad long.” Yolani dragged herself into our kitchen at eight in the morning. I could smell the weed and liquor before she passed doorway of the kitchen. From the way she swaggered in, I could tell she still had some in her system, and the way she dragged her words, I knew she was feeling nice.
“You haven’t,” my response was short and blunt. There was no need for me to sugarcoat anything. My wife hadn’t seen me in a few days, and it bothered me. Instead of her being home or knowing my whereabouts, she was worried about drinking and getting high with her workers. It irritated me that she was standing in front of me with glossy eyes and a silly grin fixed on her face.
“Damn, I come home and get attitude. I came home the other night, and you weren’t here… all night,” she added.
My heart stopped because I spent the entire night with Denim. I prayed God forgive me for sleeping with someone outside of our marriage. Denim was just… Denim and I wanted it. I wanted to feel wanted and caressed. I wanted someone to whisper sweet nothings in my ear or lay in bed in the afterglow of passionate sex. He gave me all the things I wanted from my wife, the woman I married. The fact that I didn’t return home didn’t encourage her to worry about where I could have been. Instead, she went back out and did what she was great at; running the streets.
“Went to hang out with Mo and ended up staying over and helping her with the kids.” My best friend, Mo was my quick recovery. If Yolani called, she would lie without me needing to fill her in beforehand.
“Oh, word? Thought you both were taking a break now that she has a new nigga.” She went into the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water. She stopped when she seen a plastic container in the fridge. “You went by Pit Pat’s?”
“Yes. She invited me over for dinner. I called you and your phone went to voicemail. Your brother is helping a friend out and she’s staying there with them along with her son.”
“Friend? He doesn’t let people we’ve grew up with stay the night… who is he?”
“Um, I just said she has a son, Yolani. Why are you all like this? Something isn’t right with you.” I walked closer to her and she backed up from me.
“Why you trying to be in my shit? I’m tired and been out in the streets, let a nigga take a breather before breathing down my neck!” she barked before heading upstairs.
Shaking my head, I continued to sit at the island while checking my social media messages. It bothered me that me and Yolani was at this place in our relationship. Then again, it didn’t surprise me. This was the regular routine and it was something I had to learn to get used to. While I was heading out to head to the shop, she was coming in to sleep the day away. Then, when I came home, she was heading out. We had no time for us to spend time or reconnect after working. I understood that she had to work, and bills had to get paid. Still, where did I fit in to all of that?
Coming to take you to lunch today. Make sure you don’t book no appointments, Denim’s message popped up on my phone.
Looking behind me, a smirk came on my face thinking of the way he stroked my kitty. Even when I got up the next morning and tried to do the walk of shame out of his hotel room, he stopped me and made me cuddle with him until noon. When I awoke from our nap, he had lunch spread out in the sitting room, and we enjoyed each other’s company. It was beautiful or is that too corny. The simple things are what made me revisit the moment a million times in my head.
“Don’t forget to put the security code on. You be forgetting that shit all the time,” Yolani made sure to yell down the stairs before she closed our bedroom door.
Lunch sounds good. See you then. Each time she pissed me off, it just made me want to be with Denim that much more. Maybe God was telling me something and I wasn’t listening to him.
Tossing my unfinished drink into the sink, I grabbed my keys along with my purse and headed out the house, purposing forgetting to put on the security code. Yolani was going to learn that I wasn’t one of her workers and she couldn’t just talk to me anyway and think I was going to accept it.
When I arrived at the shop, everyone was setting up while six people waited to be seen. After I greeted everyone, I headed to my office and my best friend, Mo, followed right behind me. I knew she was being nosey because I hadn’t been in the shop for the past few days.
“Where have you been, ‘cause you sure haven’t been here?” She smacked her tongue and sat in the seat in front of me.
“Taking much needed time off.” Mo could tell something was off and she just in the seat in front of my desk and observed me.
“You got some dick… only dick will have you whistling while shuffling through all those bills,” she called out.
“Um, what? You know I’m married to Yolani, so how is that possible?”
“That plastic dick don’t have you humming and going through those bills. Spill it,” she demanded and crossed her legs as she got comfortable.
“Denim is back,” was all I had to say for her eyes to pop out of her head. “Mo, you don’t need t—”
“Denim that wanted to marry you? Denim that was ready to whisk you away to the west coast and make you his wife?”
“Yes, Denim is just fine to use. Not too many people walking around with the name Denim.”
“How the fuck did that happen?” she questioned.
“He’s back in town and says he’s back for me. But, that’s a lie. He’s opening a store here and wanted to catch up.”
“How did catching up end up with your legs opened?”
“Who said they were opened?”
“That smile on your face. Hazel, what the hell?”
Mo was shocked because this wasn’t me. I wasn’t the one who slept around, especially with old flings. I was the committed housewife who ran her business and catered to her wife. Who was this person emerging from inside of me? Not only did I ch
eat on Yolani, I was ready, willing and prepared to do it again.
Falling into my chair, I put my head back. “He makes me smile. It’s like no time past by us when we connected. Things haven’t been the best with me and Yolani.”
“Hmph, I heard.”
“What do you mean you heard?”
“Hazel, do you think the streets are silent? Yolani is out here living life like she doesn’t have a ring on her finger, and you at home. I’m sorry you’re hearing it from me, but you need to check your wife. And, messing around with Denim isn’t good either. This man wants you, and if you can’t give yourself to him fully, you need to stop leading him on.”
This was one of the main reasons I hated having heart to hearts with Mo. She was always right and would tell you about yourself. You couldn’t argue because what she spoke was pure facts. You could argue with opinions all day, but when it came to facts, you couldn’t argue with that. Crazy thing is that Denim told me what he wanted upfront. He didn’t hide the fact that he wanted me… he wanted us. I chose to ignore it while having my fun with him. It was wrong, but who was I kidding? Leaving Yolani would be a nightmare. She would never sign divorce papers and she would make my life a living hell.
“I hear you,” I sighed. “Anyway, how’s the kids? Chikae still modeling?”
“Yeah, she just got booked for some store in the city. It’s a citywide campaign, so my baby’s face will be all over the city.”
“Aye, go diva! And you? What about school?”
“You already know I’m still going to class. The goal is to finish, and I can’t let my three babies down,” she smiled.
Mo was a single mother, and she never let that shit get her down. If her kids needed something, she would move hell and high water to make sure they had everything and then some. She owned her own home, car and went to school at nights while the kids slept. During the day, she worked at the receptionist here and always made it home to prepare a hot meal for them. When I thought of mom goals, she was the definition of it.
“Good. Do I have any bookings today?”
