Watercolored Pearls

by Stacy Hawkins Adams

  "Everything I read in the Bible about ending marriage refers to God not being pleased with divorce," she repeatedly told Serena and even Derrick, when he had finally professed a more-than-friendly interest in her. "I may want to leave Elliott and move on with my life, but God may want something different. I have to wait on Him to lead me."

  Here she sat today, though, in church with a man who was ready to be part of her future. And where was Elliott?

  Today's sermon had better be good.

  Serena glanced at Micah, who sat with his eyes closed in meditation as he prepared to speak after another song from the choir. The father of her children still had the power to make her knees weak. That was something else to thank God for.

  When Serena caught Erika looking her way, she balled her fist up and held it to her ear, her silent gesture for "Call me—we have to talk."

  Erika lowered her head. Serena knew something big had happened.

  6

  So Elliott asks for a divorce and you call Derrick."

  Serena didn't mean to sound cynical, but Erika's reaction to the greeting card and note she had received from Elliott last week raised some concerns. Erika lived in a battered women's shelter for a year to get away from this man. Now she was trying to make him jealous?

  "This must mean that you still care about Elliott, to do something so impulsive."

  Erika glared at Serena. "You're on a roll today, girlfriend. I'm not the twins, remember?"

  Serena grabbed more toys to take to the backyard and walked over to her friend.

  "Don't try that reverse psychology on me, Erika," she said, eyeing Erika's back as Erika retrieved an Elmo sprinkler from a corner of the garage. "It's just that you've been so cautious these past couple of years, so focused on how you want to move forward and with whom, I don't recall any talk about reuniting with Elliott. You told Derrick you needed your space until you worked everything out.

  "Now that Elliott seems to finally be ending his fixation with you, you're playing high school games. You know if he had been at church today and had seen Derrick sitting next to you, holding his son, he probably would have flipped. Forget anger management training."

  Erika led the way out of the garage, toting folding chairs under each arm. They were almost as big as she was, Serena noted. And now that Serena carried an extra thirty pounds on her frame that she couldn't seem to shed, she towered over her best friend like the Jolly Green Giant.

  "How many more chairs do we need?" Erika asked between heavy breaths.

  "Enough for my crew; yours; Ian, Bethany, and Victoria; and Melvin's family, in case they stop by on the way out of town."

  Serena hoped they would. Jacob and Jaden loved their grandpop more than anything. One fast twirl on Melvin's shoulders and a try at guessing how he magically moved a quarter from one hand to the other would be the biggest thrill of their day.

  The two women worked side by side, positioning chairs under the folding tables Micah had placed in the shadiest area of the large, fenced backyard. The property wasn't as spacious as what Serena and Micah had owned when they lived in Cobblestone Creek, one of Chesterfield County's well-regarded communities, but Serena was content.

  She struggled with motherhood these days, but she hadn't forgotten the pain of the miscarriages and the deep longing for a baby that she'd experienced while she lived in the mini-mansion. She knew what mattered.

  The women slowly crossed the yard on their way back to the kitchen. Erika finally filled the silence.

  "I don't know, Serena. I'm just torn." She looked toward the patio, where Derrick leaned against the brick wall of the house and talked to Micah, who was basting chicken and ribs.

  "Elliott's cards come so often now that I usually just toss them aside," she said. "But Gabrielle was there that evening, and curiosity got the better of us. Part of me thinks he's just calling my bluff, to see what I will do."

  Erika turned toward Serena. "I mean, has he been sending me cards all this time and secretly dating someone else? Who is she?"

  They walked through the garage to enter the kitchen.

  "I'll say it again," Serena said, a little less sternly this time. "Seems to me like you care a little too much."

  Erika busied herself with removing cans of soda from the refrigerator and sticking them in the large cooler that Micah had already filled with ice. Once finished, she closed the lid and sat on top of it. Her petite frame barely covered half of the cooler.

  "Part of me is always going to love him, Serena," Erika said of Elliott. "He was my first love. And even though Aaron wasn't conceived in the best of circumstances, Elliott is still his father. Every time I kiss my son and look into his beautiful eyes, I see part of Elliott.

  "I guess that's what I'm struggling with. If he's really getting married to someone else, then that means there really is no chance for us to make our family work."

  Serena turned away from the sink, where she had dumped a bag of frozen jumbo shrimp to thaw.

  "E, come on," she said softly. "Didn't that dream die a long time ago? What have the past three years been about?

  Playing head games to see how long Elliott would play along? He's been on his best behavior, but do you really believe he's changed?"

  "Maybe so," Erika answered softly. "He comes to church just about every Sunday, he plays well with Aaron during their supervised visits, and he's never raised his voice at me since I moved back to Richmond. People do change, you know, Serena."

  Both women jumped when the side kitchen door creaked open. Derrick stood there with a pan of just-off-the-grill chicken. His eyes told them he'd heard enough.

  "And some people don't," he said calmly. Derrick placed the chicken on a counter near the oven and grabbed a paper towel from the stainless steel holder near Serena.

  After drying his hands, he rested them on Serena's shoulders and kissed her cheek. Sadness swam in his deep brown eyes.

  "Thanks for having me, lady. I think it's time I get back to Northern Virginia before the holiday weekend traffic on 1-95 gets worse."

  When he turned to leave, Erika stood and grabbed his arm. "Derrick, wait!"

  He paused and studied her.

  Tawana, who was outside with Jaden, Jacob, and Aaron, yelled for Serena, as if on cue. "I need your help with one of the twins!"

  Thank you, Daddy, Serena silently uttered. She trotted outside, but not before she heard the anger and hurt in Derrick's voice.

  "You're using me, Erika."

  7

  By late afternoon, Serena's worries about the state of her home had been abandoned. Jacob, Jaden, Misha, and Aaron gleefully rotated from the redwood swing set in the backyard to games of hide-and-seek to trying on character costumes and performing for the adults. Misha wasn't self-conscious about being the oldest; she played along and dressed as Dash from The Incredibles.

  "I don't know why you always turn into Molly Maid just before guests arrive, especially with a houseful of kids." Micah teased her while they worked together in the kitchen to restock the food for the table outdoors.

  She laughed and shrugged. "I have my mother's southern genes. When guests are coming, you prepare."

  "What's up with Erika and Derrick?" Micah asked. "They're sitting together, but barely talking."

  Serena shook her head. "Long story. I'll fill you in later. I'm just glad he decided to stay."

  Ian, Bethany, and their daughter, Victoria, arrived at four o’clock sharp.

  Serena peered at Tawana and Erika, who sat with her at the picnic table, helping wrap corn in foil for the grill.

  "How do they do that?" she whispered. "It's like Bethany has an internal computer that sets itself, to the second, to get her exactly where she needs to be, at exactly the right time. If I'm going anywhere with the boys, I start four hours beforehand and still get there thirty minutes late!"

  The three ladies laughed.

  "That's just it," Erika said. "She doesn't have little kids to worry about. It probably takes her four
hours to get herself together, though. Look at her. She could have just stepped off a New York Fashion Week runway."

  Ian crossed the lawn to greet Serena and she rose from the bench to hug him. His next target was Micah, who he shooed from the grill so he could take over.

  Bethany paused by a lawn chair near the fence and waved at Serena and her friends. She launched right into a request without wasting time on pleasantries. "May I have a cloth or wet paper towel? This needs to be wiped down before I take a seat."

  "It should be clean, Bethany," Serena said. "We took the chairs out of the garage just a few hours ago, so they've been sheltered from the elements. I guess you don't plan on using barbecue sauce, huh?"

  Serena glanced over the model-thin former Miss New Jersey's white sleeveless linen top and matching skirt and her three-inch high gold sandals. Every coffee brown spiral curl was in place and perfectly complemented her caramel complexion.

  Bethany easily looked a decade younger than her forty- three years, and when she smiled, her face seemed graced with sunshine.

  Then she has to open that mouth, Serena thought.

  It was clear that Bethany was used to leaving men, and women, awestruck, and her daughter, Victoria, already knew her startling beauty had the same effect.

  The sixteen-year-old glided across the backyard in a tangerine mini-dress and wedge taupe sandals that complemented her shapely legs. The hair that usually fell well below her shoulders was pulled up into a bun, and oversized dark shades covered most of her face, protecting her translucent fair skin from the sun.

  Victoria came prepared to decline the chips, hot dogs, soda, and other typical cookout fare. She held up the bag she'd brought along—it contained Perrier and Boca burgers. She sauntered over to Micah, who had agreed to share cooking duties with Ian, and asked the men to grill two of the soy patties, one for her and one for her mother. Then she surveyed the landscape to find the tree with the most shade and planted herself in the lawn chair already positioned there. With the Bluetooth in her ear, she fielded calls from a purple cell phone that spouted a different Beyonce tune each time it rang.

  Serena returned with a hand towel so Bethany could dust the lawn chair’s cloth seat. Instead of using it for that purpose, Bethany placed it on the seat and made herself comfortable. She retrieved a wide-brimmed straw hat and supersized shades from her designer shoulder bag, then glanced at her daughter and shook her head.

  "That child reminds me so much of myself at that age," Bethany said. "Isn't she something else?"

  Serena’s lack of response didn't faze her. Bethany opened a copy of Vogue and flipped through its pages while she waited for her husband to deliver her burger.

  Micah cranked up the volume on the CD player he had placed on the patio and picked up his tongs to remove the chicken from the grill. Jazz filled the air, and Ian, who stood nearby basting ribs, bobbed his head to the music.

  Serena walked past them and rubbed the back of Micah's neck. "This is what I call keeping it real, bruh."

  He grinned, and she knew he, too, was thinking about the surround-sound system they had used often at their Cobblestone Creek house. When Standing Rock Community Church dismissed Micah and he decided to establish a ministry, they sold that house, moved into Serena's childhood home, and went back to basic living without missing a beat. Having baby Aaron live there with them while Erika got on her feet had made it all the more special.

  When the birth of their twins had forced Serena and Micah to find more space, they wound up renting Serena's house to Erika.

  The little money left in a savings account opened years ago for Serena by her father, Melvin, had been used to put a down payment on this house in one of Richmond's older, tree-lined neighborhoods. The two-story property with a wraparound porch had a full basement and finished walk-up attic and needed minor renovations and repairs, so it hadn't cost a mint like the Cobblestone Creek mini-mansion. With Serena and Micah surviving on Micah's income, they had learned to make do with what they had.

  Serena went inside to grab more sodas and walked in on Tawana, who was talking softly to someone on her cell phone.

  "I'd like to see you on Tuesday, Grant, but I don't know.

  I have my final meeting with my study group, from seven to nine, before most of us leave for the summer."

  Serena knew she should cough or somehow let Tawana know she was there, but she remained still.

  "Okay, nine thirty will work, but only for a little while."

  Tawana folded the phone and wiggled her hips.

  "You sure all he wants is a date?"

  Tawana turned quickly and frowned. "You were eavesdropping."

  Serena raised her palms. "I'm sorry, T. I came in for something and overheard you. What's going on with you?"

  "Why?"

  Serena approached her. "You know why. What's with dating all these different guys?"

  Anger flashed in Tawana's eyes. "I see you've been talking to my mother. I know Mama moved up to help me with Misha, but I'm a grown woman. If I can't be at the best university in the nation and enjoy it, what's the point?"

  How do I reach her? Serena remained silent.

  "I'm not going to be twenty-three forever," Tawana continued. "I need to go out and experience life whenever I can get away from the books. I know, I know—you want to know why I don't go to church too. Aren't you always telling me it's not about sitting in the pews? I still believe in God; I just need to take a break for a minute."

  Serena touched her arm. "What if God decided to do that too?"

  Tawana brushed past Serena and slid open the door leading to the patio.

  "I don't know, Serena. Maybe He already has."

  8

  Tawana checked her watch and walked faster. Her group study session ran long, and it was twenty minutes after nine. Grant had agreed to meet her in the parking lot in front of her apartment in ten minutes. She jumped in her car and sped toward home.

  While she weaved in and out of the light traffic, her thoughts turned to the great time she’d had over the weekend in Richmond—that all three Carter women had. Mama was rejuvenated from fellowshipping with her sisters and her friend, Ms. Brenda; Misha loved having other children to play with, even if they were all boys; and for her part, she had enjoyed hanging out with Serena and Micah and their friends without worrying about an exam or the need to research a particular case. Grant's call had been the icing on the cake.

  Despite the lecture from Serena, Tawana had been thrilled by his request to meet her when she returned to Boston. She'd been counting down the hours.

  Thinking about him kept her from fretting over her new dilemma. With Serena reluctantly preparing for Micah's sister and her two children to visit, Tawana hadn't summoned the courage to ask about a twelve-week stay during her summer internship. What

  What was she going to do now?

  She whipped into a parking space and exhaled when she realized she wasn’t late. Seconds later, Grant pulled up alongside her older model Toyota and stepped out of his charcoal gray BMW. He strode around to the driver’s side of the sedan and opened Tawana’s door.

  "Hello, beautiful," he said and leaned inside until their faces nearly touched.

  His rich cologne permeated her breathing space and she felt dizzy with delight. When he extended his hand, she clasped it and stepped out of the car. Yes - this was how she wanted to be treated.

  Grant opened the door to his car, and she slid into the passenger seat as if she did this every day. An Eric Benet song poured from the speakers. That same song had wafted from the window of a slowly passing car during the after-dinner stroll they had ventured on their first date, and Grant had begun singing it to her.

  Tawana smiled. He’s been thinking about me all weekend, too.

  "Where to?" he asked once he buckled his seatbelt.

  She shrugged, hoping she wasn't wearing the weariness of a long day on her face. "I'm not picky, but I don't want to stay out too late."

  "You st
ill have a curfew?" Grant laughed and covered the stick shift with his hand. He throttled it back, then raced toward the street. "Want Thai, Italian, Jamaican, or American cuisine?"

  Now it was Tawana's turn to chuckle. "Talk about giving a lady choices! The last time we had Italian; let's try one of the others."

  They settled on 9 Tastes, a Thai spot not far from Harvard Square.

  As they waited for their meals to arrive, they continued the get-to-know-you banter they had begun on their first date, a few weeks earlier.

  "How was your visit home?" Grant asked.

  "Richmond is Richmond, " Tawana said. "I guess a lot of people feel that way about their hometown, though. It was great to spend time with my friend Serena and her family. How often do you go home to San Francisco?"

  "Usually just for the holidays," he said. "Mom and Dad stay busy with their plastic surgery and dermatology practices, and with the hectic schedules of my teenage brother and sister. When I go home any time other than Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter, I barely see them. I have a few relatives on the East Coast and in parts of the Southeast that I visit occasionally, so it's not too bad."

  "Knowing all of this and you still want to follow in your dad's footsteps?"

  Grant nodded. "When most people hear 'plastic surgery,' they automatically think about face-lifts and breast implants," he said. "But I grew up hearing my dad talk about the people he helped who had been disfigured in accidents or by birth defects. I've always liked the idea of being able to transform someone's life. And it doesn’t hurt that I can make a boatload in the process!" He reared back in his seat and smiled. "This type of medicine is a natural fit for me."

  Tawana held her breath. They had covered some of the basics on their last date, but she knew tonight he would ask more probing questions about her family and friends. As long as she focused on her years at U.Va., she was in respectable territory. Unless they got serious, no need to bring up Misha, either.