Wrong Way Renee

by Wynter Daniels

  All the air whooshed from her lungs. Blood pounded in her ears. She spun around the other way, practically pulling Joe's arm out of its socket.

  “Hey, slow down,” he said.

  “I'm…hungry. Can we go to Denny’s for a bite to eat now?”

  Hurry!

  “Sure, but can we slow down? You’re not going to pass out if you don’t eat in the next five minutes, are you?”

  She urged him faster toward the nearest exit.

  “My car’s around the other side of the mall. Quickest way there is back through the mall.” He pulled open the door.

  “No!”

  He let the door shut and set his hands on his waist. “What the hell is going on?”

  She swallowed. “Huh? Nothing. What do you mean?”

  He narrowed his eyes at her. “I’m not an idiot. Do you want to tell me or are you going to make me guess, although I have a pretty good idea what’s got you so freaked out.”

  “Y-you do?” Her voice came out as a squeak.

  He hooked her arm and led her to a concrete planter where he set his bags down. “Sit.”

  Gulping, she complied.

  He poked a finger at her. “Give me a little credit, would you?”

  Could he possibly know about Cleave? “Um, what do you mean?”

  “Come on Renee. You saw someone you knew in there.”

  Oh, God.

  “You’ve never dated a white man before and you’re afraid whoever it was is going to judge you for being with me.” He sat beside her. “You’re cool with it and so am I. So who gives a damn what anyone else thinks.”

  She drew a breath and offered up a silent prayer of thanks. “You’re right.”

  He nodded. “Thought so. Now get off that adorable ass and let’s get back in there.”

  She gasped. “No, I can’t.”

  His features softened. “Okay. I can see you’re not ready. Fine. We’ll go the long way around. But next time you’d better introduce me to them or my feelings are going to get hurt. Kapish?”

  “Kapish.”

  He pulled her up and into his embrace. “You’re not ashamed of me, are you?”

  She laid her head against his strong chest. “No, of course not. I’m happy to be with you.”

  He lifted her chin so she had to look at him as he seemed to scrutinize her eyes. “I hope that’s true. Honesty is really important to me.”

  Wasn’t as if she was lying to him about not being ashamed. She was proud to be seen with such a hot man, black or white. She pushed up on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his. “You can take that to the bank, mister.”

  After dinner, Joe dropped her home, but not before a heavy petting session in the police cruiser. When she got inside her apartment, she saw the message light on the answering machine flashing. She hit the button.

  “Hi, Renee, it's Cleave. You never called me back. The party at the country club is Friday at six. I would really appreciate if you could join me. It would mean a lot to me. Call me.”

  Joe had asked her to his friend’s party first. It was only right to go with him. Might as well get it over with.

  “Hey, it's me,” she said when Cleave picked up.

  “Busy day?” He sounded tired.

  “Yeah. Sorry I didn't call you back earlier. I was trying to juggle my schedule around so I could go to the party. I have to be at my friend Toy's house at eight o'clock. I promised I'd go to her company party. Poor thing just got divorced and she has so few friends, has trouble meeting people, you know? Anyway, like I said, I have to pick her up by eight, so I don't see how I could do the country club party.” Boy, if he ever met Toy, she knew she'd have a lot of explaining to do.

  “But you could make an appearance. Why don't we go to the party at six, then I'll drop you at your friend's house by eight?”

  Damn. This was going to be harder than she thought. “Well…”

  “Look, Renee. I'm leaving for Atlanta on Sunday. I want to give you your gift. I'd like to see you before I go. And frankly, I'd like to show you off.”

  “Gift?” She slapped her forehead.

  “Now don't you even think about getting something for me. It's just a little something I saw and thought you'd like.”

  How was she supposed to turn him down now? “I'll tell you what. I'll meet you there at six. But I'll have to leave by seven-thirty to make it to Toy's.”

  “But—”

  “Bo buts. That’s the deal. Or else I skip the party.” She crossed her fingers.

  “Sold. I'll see you then.”

  After she hung up, she rubbed her temples to ward off the beginnings of a headache. Although she was pretty sure she wanted to take things to the next level with Joe, she had to be positive she wasn’t make a huge mistake by ending things with Cleave. If she wasn’t careful, she was going to blow it with both men.

  Chapter Seven

  Renee parked next to Antoine's electric green Volkswagen Bug Tuesday morning. “Need help?”

  He lifted his trunk and pulled out a large box overflowing with curling irons and blow-dryers. “Sure, cupcake.” He pushed the box into her waiting arms them wrapped a black feather boa around her neck. “I drape that over the mirror at my station.”

  She smiled. Having him around was going to be a hoot. She could feel it.

  In less than half an hour, Antoine had transformed the back station into a pink and black paradise, complete with a tiara and a plaque, which read “Queen of the Salon.”

  His first client arrived at ten, an elderly diva sporting a mile-high beehive.

  Renee introduced herself to the woman until Melissa ran into the shop.

  As Renee hurried to her station, Melissa threw herself into the chair at Renee’s station. “I'm pregnant,” she blurted out.

  “Congratulations.” She squealed and hugged her.

  “Rich is so happy. So am I. We've been waiting for this for four years. Can you imagine?” She giggled like a little girl.

  “I'm so happy for you.” Her hands were shaking from the exciting news. She wondered what it would be like to have another life inside of her.

  They got carried away discussing babies, names, where to register for shower gifts and old wives tales about how to tell the baby's gender. By the time Melissa left, Renee was on a high for her, having developed a genuine affection for the woman.

  Gerta was next. She was the needle that let the air out of Renee's balloon. The woman was dull and depressing. She was a challenge for Renee and she worked way too hard to keep the conversation going. “How's your granddaughter doing?”

  The older woman rolled her eyes. “Dating that awful boy again.”

  Wrong think to say. “I like your hair. Did Becky use a new color on it last time?”

  “Who knows? I don't pay attention to that. Sometimes I don’t think she does, either.”

  Strike two.

  “Are you and your husband planning any vacations next year?”

  Gerta shrugged. “Maybe to Atlantic City.”

  “That sounds fun. Do you like to gamble?”

  “No. Frank does. I hate it. And I always lose.”

  Some people would always see the glass as half empty. Next she did four more manicures, one pedicure and a fill before calling it a day.

  As she wiped down her nail table, Becky came over and sat opposite her. “So, what's going on in your life, kiddo?” Becky rested her chin on her hand.

  “I'm torn between two lovers.” She threw her head back in a dramatic gesture.

  “Feeling like a fool?” Becky sang.

  “Tell me what to do, Beck. They're both great guys. I know if I was seeing either of them and not the other, I'd be excited about the prospect of a future. But I'm having trouble deciding who I should keep and who I should stop seeing. I was with Joe at the mall the other night and I caught sight of Cleave. I practically dragged Joe out of there. He thought I was a crazy woman.”

  Becky's smile faded. “You need to make a decision. It'
s not fair to either man. Anyway, each of us is only allotted one man at a time. You have somebody else's share.”

  “Like Dan did? But this started by accident.” She furrowed her brow. Both Joe and Cleave were so sweet. She hated the idea that she was going to be the cause of pain for either of them, the kind of pain she'd suffered when Dan left her.

  “Dan might tell the same story.”

  “God, I never saw myself like Dan before. I guess I should do something soon.” She hated to admit it, but Becky was right. Dating two men started out as an ego trip, but now she really liked them both. Who wouldn't? They were both great men. It was wrong to keep stringing them along, though. She had to decide soon. Either way, someone was going to get hurt.

  * * * * *

  Friday evening, Renee entered the restaurant at the club wearing a strappy black dress with a red silk shawl and black satin pumps with rhinestone swirls on each pointy toe. Huge garlands, wreaths and mini Christmas trees decorated the room. The buffet spread seemed to go on forever. She glimpsed Cleave in a corner speaking to her mother. Had he told her parents that she was leaving early? She just prayed they didn’t give her the third degree over where she was going after.

  “Hi, Mama, Cleave.” She looped her arm through his.

  Cleave took a step back, looking her over from head to toe. “God, you look gorgeous.” He gave her a peck on the lips that took the chill right out of the air.

  Her mother’s eyes sparkled. “Cleave tells me you two have been out a few times.”

  “Yes, but it's none of your concern.” She smiled as she said it, tired of her mother’s attempts to squish her life into the cookie cutter one she’d envisioned for her daughters.

  Elizabeth scowled at her. “You are my concern, dear.”

  Cleave raised an eyebrow.

  Her dad walked over wearing a tuxedo with a flashing reindeer pin on the lapel. He carried a drink and kissed her on her cheek. “Hello, sweetheart. You look lovely.”

  “Hi, Daddy. You’re so handsome in your tux.” She gently pinched his cheek. “Are Gary and Char here?”

  “Not yet. Gary was still working when I left the office. He's almost as bad as you, Cleave,” her father said.

  “I work hard and I play hard.” Cleave glanced sideways at Renee. “I'm trying to convince Luther to start a firm softball team.”

  “Good luck. Mama's been trying to get him to exercise for years,” She grinned at her father.

  “You know what they say about all work and no play. I hope you all will excuse me while I steal a moment with this beautiful lady.” Cleave led her away, but not before she noticed how her parents positively beamed.

  She rolled her eyes at them. Perhaps it was a last vestige of her teen rebellion that she didn't want to do what they wanted her to, she didn't want to fit in the pigeonhole they'd carved out.

  The pool area sparkled with tiny lights strung through the trees. Red and green spotlights illuminated a fountain in the center of the water.

  He took a gold box with a red velvet ribbon out of his jacket pocket and handed it to her. “Merry Christmas.”

  A lump of pure emotion lodged in her throat. “That’s so sweet, Cleave.” She pulled the ribbon and opened it to find a gold bracelet with two tiny charms hanging from it. One was an R. She had to hold the other one to the light to see what it was. It was a tiny golf cart. She bent over, laughing.

  “Thank you. I love it.” She let him hook it on her wrist. She could get used to being treated like a princess.

  “I plan to get you a gold charm for each special or memorable moment we have together from now on. I hope it's filled up soon.” He kissed her forehead. Rubbing his hands up and down her back, he drew her closer then brushed his lips over hers.

  He smelled like the woods in autumn. She rested her chin on his shoulder. Looking past him into the dining room, she saw her mother staring out the window at them, a big smile on her face. Closing her eyes, she savored the moment and tried to forget that she was doing exactly what her mother wanted.

  After a few minutes, they headed back inside. Char and Gary had just arrived. Char was radiant in a knee length emerald sequined dress.

  “You look great, Renee. Doesn't she look great, Cleave?” Gary asked.

  “We're so lucky to have the three best looking ladies in the place right here.” Cleave draped his arm over her shoulder.

  She relished the feeling of standing so close to him, breathing in his cologne and feeling the fine fabric of his jacket rubbing against her skin.

  Char pulled Renee away from the men and whispered in her ear. “Looks like things are moving right along with you two. How's it going?”

  Renee wasn't going to give any information up to her sister. Since they'd been teenagers, Char had to know every minute detail of her life and it got on her nerves. “We hired a new hairdresser. He started this week.”

  “I mean with you and Cleave. Don't pull that shit again with me.”

  “What shit would that be?” She grabbed a glass of champagne from a passing waiter. “Merry Christmas. Want the rest of this? I have to drive soon.” She handed Char her glass, still half full, then rejoined the group.

  Char followed. “Where are you going? Didn't Cleave bring you?”

  “No, I came alone.” She walked away, leaving her sister with way more questions than answers. Renee rejoined the rest of the group.

  “So, Renee, Cleave tells me you have to leave early,” her mother said.

  She gulped. “Yes.”

  “Your poor, lonely friend Toy needs your support, eh?” Elizabeth's eyes bored through her.

  Renee glanced around the room. “Anyone care to join me at the buffet?” She was anxious to escape her mother's glare. The woman knew her too well.

  After she and Cleave sampled the food, they strolled around the pool area, talking and laughing. She was enjoying more and more the easy rapport they shared. At seven-thirty, feeling like Cinderella leaving the ball, she said her goodbyes then headed home to change.

  By eight-fifteen, she was dressed in tight-fitting black jeans with a white turtleneck under a Christmas-themed black vest. Joe arrived to pick her up for the second party of the evening.

  “Aren't you the festive one?” Joe said when he got there to pick her up. He looked sexier than usual in jeans and a long sleeved red denim shirt.

  Wrapping her arms around his muscular torso, she pulled him to her and kissed him. Her hands slid down to his jeans pockets of their own volition and she felt the muscles in his cute tush tighten.

  “Maybe we should arrive fashionably late.” He guided her onto the couch.

  “Perhaps we should.” She sat on his lap and nibbled his earlobe.

  “What's this?” He lifted her wrist to examine the gold charm bracelet Cleave had put there a few hours earlier. “Is this new?”

  A stab of guilt mixed with a healthy dose of fear inside her. Dammit. Why hadn’t she remembered to take that off? She took back her hand. “It's nothing. A friend gave it to me.”

  “Why a golf cart?”

  “We played a couple times, that's all.” The lies were beginning to pile up. Along with shame. She eased off of him and stood. “We should probably go.”

  “I was just starting to have fun here.” He looked at her with the cutest puppy dog eyes.

  “You don't want Wyatt to be mad at you for being late, do you?”

  He scowled. “No, I guess not. Okay, let's go.”

  They headed toward downtown in the police cruiser. She slumped in the seat, hoping to avoid anyone she knew. She silently chided herself for being so concerned with what other people thought.

  You’re not your Mama. Stop acting like her.

  “Are you embarrassed to ride in a police car?”

  “No, I’m…yes.” She glanced out the window at the cheesy plastic holiday decorations hanging from lamp poles as they went. Last thing she wanted to see was the disappointment she knew she’d find in his expression. She didn't wa
nt to be the kind of snob her mother was, but Elizabeth seemed to be winning the battle from afar.

  “Why? Is it beneath you?”

  Was she really that much of a snob? Did she look down her nose at the blue-collar sector of society of which she had become a member? “I guess it's my upbringing. I'm sorry. My mother would be mortified if she knew I was going on a date in a police car. Not that I give a rat's ass what she thinks.” But she knew, deep down, that she did. And she hated herself for it.

  “Apparently you do. I guess I won't be meeting your parents any time soon, with you being ashamed of me and all.”

  She faced him. “No, Joe. I'm not ashamed of you. I'm proud of you. You've already rescued me once.”

  “If you're ashamed to ride in the car, that must mean you're ashamed of my uniform and the job I do.” He kept his eyes trained on the road. He wouldn't absolve her of any of her shame.

  The last thing she wanted was to hurt him. She had to get past this if they had any chance of a future. In her heart, she knew he was the type of person she was proud to be with. Why did outward appearances still matter so much? “I'm as blue collar as you. I'm a nail tech, for God's sake.”

  “Maybe you see yourself above all that.”

  “No, no I don't.” But his words held some truth. She thought about his job and all the risks he took, all the courageous acts he must do everyday, all the dangerous situations he had to encounter. Where was the shame in being a hero?

  She sat up straighter. “You know what? You're right. I never realized I felt that way. I'm going to work on that starting now.” She took his hand, hoping she hadn't inadvertently damaged what they had together. Her heart lifted when he squeezed her fingers.

  His expression softened. “Does this mean I get to meet your family?”

  His question hit her like the sound of an air horn. What would her parents think if they knew she was dating two men? They were so enamored with Cleave.

  “You wouldn't like them. They're very…stiff, not your type at all.”

  “I see.” The air grew cooler inside the car.

  “Joe…try to understand. Anyway, I haven't met your family yet.”

  “Now that you mention it, I was hoping you'd come to dinner at Dad's on Christmas Eve. Is that a possibility?”