“Tamika…”
“Mom.”
“Okay, enough. Let’s just agree not to agree,” she said, then walked away, leaving Tamika to consider her comments.
Tamika sat in the dining room stewing. There was no way she was wrong about Keith Tyler. He was a user. Yes, she wanted to go back home but she also wanted to do the right thing. And when it came to her mother’s new friend, something just didn’t seem right.
Thinking more about what she’d read and what Jaleesa said about her dad, Tamika wondered exactly what he was up to. Going back online, she started checking out the Tyler Real Estate Web site again. But just as the home page came up she saw that Sean was online so she sent an IM.
Tamika: Hey, u there
Sean: yeah, hi
Tamika: I called U
Sean: I was busy, I called back
Tamika: I know, I missed U’R call
Tamika: I thought U were avoiding me
She waited, but he didn’t respond.
Tamika: Sorry about B4. I was pissed. My mom is driving me crazy. I don’t know what 2 do anymore. She’s so blind when it comes 2 certain people. I keep telling her they frontin’ and she just ignores me. She’s driving me crazy!!
He didn’t respond again.
Tamika: R U there
Sean: yeah
Tamika continued typing her rant about her mother then stopped and deleted it, deciding to change the subject.
Tamika: I took U’R advice
Sean: ?
Tamika: checking out Fraser
Sean: finally
Tamika: yeah, I know
He didn’t respond for a while.
Tamika: R U busy?
He still didn’t respond.
Tamika: R U OK?
Sean: U like it?
Tamika: like what?
Sean: Fraser
Tamika: it’s okay, I guess—I was taking pictures
Sean: of what?
Tamika: Fraser
Sean: LOL, really?
Tamika: yeah, it’s not so bad. I saw this old bridge not far from here. Somebody told me that 2 people died jumping off
Sean: I know the bridge—they died back N the day
Tamika: I wonder Y?
Sean: I’ll tell U about it L8R
Tamika: promise??
Sean: yeah
Tamika: missed u on the 4th
Sean: things got messed up, couldn’t make it.
Tamika looked at his response. She was surprised that she was more upset and disappointed than she thought she would be.
Tamika: maybe next time
Sean: U saw Fraser where else?
Tamika: I went 2 this place called Elwood
Sean: really? that’s where my grandparents live
Sean: that’s where I’m staying
Tamika: I was there 2day, it’s nice
Sean: I gotta show u around
Tamika: okay
Sean: so what R U up 2 2nite?
Tamika: nothing, U?
Sean: driving around
Tamika: how’s Boston?
Sean: okay, I guess
There was an e-mail arrival signal. Tamika split the page and read the mail. It was from Edna Hayes at the Elwood Antique Shop. She wrote that she’d taken the ledger and letters to her friend at the museum and they were very interested in seeing more samples. Tamika squealed, she was so thrilled.
Tamika: I GTG
Sean: ok L8R
She signed off, excited to tell her mother about the antique shop request. Laura was in the kitchen with the refrigerator and freezer wide open. “So, what do you want for dinner tonight?”
“I thought you already had your dinner date.”
“It wasn’t a dinner date We ate dinner, that’s all. I know, how about if I take you out this evening? We went to this great restaurant and they have the best cheesecake I’ve ever tasted.” She turned around smiling. “How about dinner out tonight?”
“Yeah, why not?” Tamika said, then went upstairs to get ready to go.
Laura stepped out on the porch just as a young man walked up the stone path. “May I help you?” she asked.
“Hi, Mrs. Fraser?”
“Yes, and you are?”
“My name’s Sean Edwards. I’m a friend of Tamika’s from Boston.”
“Boston? You came all the way down here from Boston?”
“No, ma’am, I’m visiting my grandparents. They live in Elwood. Tamika and I go to school together, though.”
“Really?” Laura said. “Tamika’s upstairs. She’ll be right down. But to tell you the truth we’re on our way out to dinner.”
“Oh, well, I guess I can come back later.”
“No, no, why don’t you join us for dinner?”
“I don’t want to impose, ma’am.”
“You wouldn’t be imposing, it’s an invitation. I’m sure Tamika will be delighted to have a friend from Boston to talk to.”
“Okay, thanks,” he agreed.
“Why don’t you have a seat? She’ll be down shortly.” He sat down and they continued talking.
After changing, Tamika came down the stairs and headed to the front door. Even before opening the screen she heard her mother laughing and talking. Figuring she was on the phone or had one of her friends over, she opened the door but stopped in her tracks. “What are you doing here?”
Chapter 20
Laura
The following week and a half whipped by in a flash. Laura’s friend, Grace, was still away on business, so she spent just about every day hanging out with Keith. Sleeping most mornings, she hung out afternoons and evenings into the early-morning hours. Day trips, movies, shopping, horse races, dinner, parties—she was having a blast.
The new outfits she bought and new hairstyle had done the trick—she felt fantastic. Stretching leisurely, she ran her fingers through her short hair. It felt different but she liked it. The pixie haircut was something she’d done on impulse. She got up and went to the mirror, turning her face from side to side. It made her look years younger, as did her old wardrobe, or rather her new old wardrobe.
As soon as she turned to head to the bathroom, her cell rang. She answered, “Hello.”
“Woman, I know you must have had a damn good reason for missing my welcome-back birthday celebration.”
Laura chuckled. Grace had had six birthday celebrations since she arrived a little over a month ago. “Welcome back, stranger. Sorry, I had a dinner engagement.”
“Girl, please don’t tell me you’re still swinging on that man’s arm. You know he only wants one thing from you.”
“You know, I thought so too, but really, he’s pretty nice. We talk and he just listens.”
“Lordy, it’s more serious than I thought. The man is downright dangerous. He’s listening. Girl, you know he’s up to no good now.”
Laura laughed. “Oh, come on, Gracie. Give him a break. He’s really nice once you get to know the real man.”
“And you have?”
“Yes, I have,” Laura assured her. “I know him.”
“Said the fly of the spider,” Grace muttered.
“Gracie, for real, nothing’s happening. He hasn’t even tried to kiss me.”
“Honey, he can get sex from anyone. You’ve got something else he wants. But okay, okay, I know when to butt out and keep my mouth shut. I just want you to be careful. But funny, I remember telling you this exact same thing about two dozen years ago, or have you forgotten that tutoring fiasco?”
“He was young then, so was I. I know better now.”
“Do you? Do you really? Lordy, a smooth-talking man is a smooth-talking man, period, no matter how old.”
“Gracie…”
“But as I said, I know when to butt my nose out. So how’s the house coming along?”
“Girl, you wouldn’t believe the place now. It looks incredible. When the Realtor specialist stopped by the other day she was amazed by the change. I have to admit Tamika has really
put her heart into getting it together. I was really apprehensive and skeptical about giving her my credit card, but she’s been seriously great. She’s even trying to schedule an estate auction and then a yard sale in a few weeks.”
“For real?”
“Oh yeah, she’s serious. I’ve never seen her so focused. She’s plastered, painted, sanded the floors and heaven knows what else. She even got one of those storage bins that can be shipped intact.”
“Fantastic. I should get her to organize around here.”
“Seriously, the place looks incredible. She even got a friend of hers, Sean, from Boston to give her a hand with the painting.”
“Sean—that’s her boyfriend?”
“She says that they’re just friends, but I don’t know. I think there’s more. At least he’s better than that guy she used to hang with, Justin. He was out-and-out using her and she didn’t even see it. But I like Sean, he seems like a really nice guy.”
“Well, I’m glad for both of you. So listen. The reason I called is to ask if you’ve considered that article I talked to you about a while ago. The editor I work with is really interested.”
“Actually, I have been thinking about it and I have an idea that I’d like to explore. So what exactly do I have to do? Submit samples of my writing, a synopsis or ideas?”
“You can do a pitch first, then send an outline. I’ll get you the e-mail address.”
“Can I ask one favor?”
“Sure, what?”
“I haven’t seriously written in years and I have a feeling you hyped me up too much. Would you look at the piece before I send it out?”
“Sure, no problem.”
“Okay, great,” Laura said, relieved.
“I’m so excited about this. Why don’t I conference-call my editor and get back to you this afternoon? You can pitch her then.”
“Sounds good, and thank you, Gracie.”
“What are friends for? But listen, I gotta go. I’m on deadline and my article is still rough. Talk to you later.”
Laura hung up feeling even better if that was possible. Her mind was alight and her thoughts blazed with ideas. Having not written a serious piece in years, she knew she’d enjoy the challenge. She quickly showered, dressed, then headed downstairs to get started.
As soon as she stepped into the kitchen she saw the laptop computer on the table, perfect placement. Assuming that Tamika was either still asleep or in her bedroom on her cell, Laura decided to borrow her laptop to jot down a few notes for the conference call and outline.
When she turned it on and saw the screen saver she was amazed. It was a photo taken during their drive down of the two of them in the car. But this photo was astonishing. She knew Tamika loved taking pictures and was good, but she had no idea she was this talented. She opened the screen saver settings and the My Pictures file and reviewed the other photos. Some of them were extraordinary.
She grabbed her cell and called Grace again. After a brief conversation she hung up and called her husband. As usual she left a message; he was unavailable. She hadn’t actually spoken to him in days and even then it was just a two-minute conversation. He was in the middle of something and couldn’t talk, it was in the middle of the night and he was tired or she just couldn’t get through—either way, she was tired of playing phone tag.
Motivated by the photos, she excitedly typed a few ideas outlining the basic direction she hoped to go with the article. Satisfied, she elaborated more. An hour later she’d written a ten-page article inspired by her daughter’s work. She went back to the first page and added her byline, by Laura Fraser, photos by Tamika Fraser. She dropped the article outline into an e-mail along with several selected pictures, then sent them out.
“Hey,” Tamika said, standing in the open doorway, “what’s up?”
“I am, believe it or not. Good morning.”
“You’re using the laptop?” Tamika asked, surprised.
“Yes, I had a few ideas I wanted to write down.”
“What kind of ideas?”
“I’ll let you know in a few. So, what are your plans today?”
“I have to check on something so I need a ride to Elwood.”
Laura stood, walked over to the counter drawer and grabbed a set of keys inside. “Here,” she said, handing Tamika the keys.
“What are these to?”
“Keys to the car out front.”
“Aunt Sylvia’s car?”
“Actually, it’s my car, or rather the car my mother left me along with the house.”
“That’s your car outside?” Tamika asked.
Laura nodded.
“That’s why you rented a car to drive down here so that you could drive that car back, right?”
“Something like that.”
“So I get to drive the car now?” she asked hopefully.
“You get to use the car today to go to Elwood. That’s as far as it goes.”
“Cool.” She relented easily. “So, what’s for breakfast?”
“Let’s go out for breakfast.”
A few minutes later, each having driven separately, Laura and Tamika sat at an outside table at Mrs. Oliver’s Bakery eating bagels and cheese and drinking hot tea and iced coffee. “You know, this was our place to hang out when I was your age.”
“A bakery? You hung out at a bakery?” Tamika said.
“Yeah, we didn’t have malls like you have now back then.”
“You mean back in the Stone Age?” she joked.
“Yeah, I was sitting right here when they invented the wheel,” Laura played along. “But anyway, Grace, Judy, Fran and I used to come here after school.”
“I thought you said that you had to go straight home after school.”
“Well, we kind of invented this club and I told my mom I was the president and once a week we had a meeting.”
“You were president?”
“Technically we were all president and irreplaceable as far as each of our parents was concerned. So when we had a meeting we had to be there.”
“So that’s what you did to hang out?” Tamika asked. Laura nodded. “It sounds extreme.”
“It was and at the time it was brilliant. At least we thought so.”
“So, where did Keith Tyler come in?”
“He didn’t.”
“But didn’t you tutor him or something?”
“Where did you get that?”
“Just guessing,” Tamika lied.
“You know I don’t believe that,” Laura said. Tamika shrugged, then waited for her mother to continue. “Keith was one of the cool kids. His dad owned a huge business, he had money and just about every girl in school had a crush on him. I, on the other hand, was just a regular student. He and his friends had cars and hung out at the movie theater in Elwood. Me and my friends hung out here.”
“And you had a crush on him?” Tamika said.
Laura looked at her daughter, surprised by the remark. “What makes you say that? Where are you getting these ideas?”
“I kinda read your diary.”
“My diary,” she said, then paused in understanding. “Oh, right, I’d forgotten all about them. Wait, there was no way you could have gotten that just from reading one diary.”
Tamika smiled. “I read a couple.”
“A couple?”
“All of them,” she finally confessed.
“And?” Laura asked.
“And they were confusing, at least at first.”
“That was the whole idea. You need the key to get the right order in order to understand it.”
“What’s the key?”
“I’m not gonna tell you.”
“Why not? Mom, you wrote those, what, over thirty-five years ago, so what’s the big deal?”
“It has not been over thirty-five years and the big deal is that nobody was supposed to read and understand them, not even my dear nosy daughter.”
“One thing I didn’t get. I know Aunt Deb died back then but
what happened to her daughter?”
“Aunt Sylvia adopted her and raised her as her own.”
“That would make Cousin Roberta my cousin Roberta?” Tamika said. Laura nodded. “Actually, I did understand them mostly, kinda. They were interesting. I learned a lot about you.”
“Really, did you? What did you learn?” Laura asked.
“Mainly that I’m a lot like my mother.”
“Funny, I remember saying that same thing not too long ago.” She laughed, and Tamika joined in. “Okay, so you may know one of my little secrets. Now it’s your turn.”
“What?”
“You and Sean?”
“Are just friends.”
“Justin?”
“History.”
“Good. I like Sean. He’s nice, he’s cute.”
“Yeah, so you’ve said about a hundred times. Don’t you know you’re not supposed to say that? It’s the kiss of death to have a parent approve of a guy.”
“Whatever. The point is Sean seems genuinely nice.”
“Like Dad nice?”
“Yeah.”
“Talk about the kiss of death,” Tamika said.
“Hey, y’all.” Both Laura and Tamika looked up. “Girl, I was just about to call you.”
“Hey, Gracie,” Laura said, smiling up at Grace as she dragged a chair over and sat beside her.
“Hi,” Tamika said, standing. “Mom, I gotta go. I need to take care of something before the outside painters come by to finish up the trim and before Sean comes by.”
“Sean?” Grace asked, smiling.
“He’s a friend, that’s all,” Tamika said, smiling. “Y’all two are just alike. See you at home later, Mom. Bye, Ms. Hunter.”
“Okay, drive safe.”
“I will,” Tamika said as she headed to the car parked beside her mother’s rental.
“Impressive, you letting Tamika drive. The last time you—”
“Yeah, yeah, I know, but she’s really matured. I trust her and I’m really proud of her.”
“It shows. Speaking of which, I read your article outline, then sent it on to my editor.”
She Said, She Said Page 18
