by Tiana Laveen
“Thanks for comin’.” He leaned over the table and kissed her, sitting cattycorner from her.
“Thanks for inviting me.” She tapped the edge of her glass to the rhythm of the music. “I’ve never been over here long enough to really take everything in before. We’d be just coming and going so this is a nice surprise.” Yasmine looked about the place, her eyes resting on a curious piece of artwork that was framed above a black leather couch with white leather throw pillows. It depicted a man holding the world in the palm of his hand.
“Noah go over Steve’s house?” Langston asked before taking a sip of his wine. He leaned into the table in a relaxed sort of way.
“Yeah.” She smiled at him. “I am surprised you remember his friend’s name.”
“Of course I’d remember… he said Steve is cool people. So, uh, how was work?” The man cleared his throat and leaned back in the chair.
“It was good, actually. No drama. I finished trainin’ the two new cashiers and they seem to have the hang of things now. Since I’ve been working day shift, it has really helped me sit down and study the books, you know? I do that at night. I’ve signed up for another business course online. Small businesses.”
“Really? What was the reason for that?”
“I wanna maybe one day get the grocery store website going and offer exclusive products online, regional basically. Like our jerky, things like that. Not sure of everything right now at this point, but I figure it would be another stream of revenue for the store. National sales are ideal, ’specially when you think of the potential. I also want to eventually offer a subscription fee for weekly drop offs, you know, like pizza delivery, only it’s groceries.”
“Now that’s a smart idea! I like it. How’d you come up wit’ that?”
“Lookin’ around at all the old people that come in there. Their bodies hurt, they’re tired. They enjoy the interaction I think. Everybody needs to get out, get some fresh air and talk to other people, but if they can stay home a few times, ’specially on colder mornings, I think they’d be much obliged. Dallas got a few grocery chains that offer delivery service but I never thought much of it till I came down here. Elsa has such a small population you’d think it wouldn’t be necessary but I believe it would help.” She shrugged her shoulders and sipped some more on her wine. It was good.
“You’ve got a mind for this sort of thing. Your uncle knew what he was doin’ when he asked you to come.” She smiled at his words. “Dinner should be ready soon. I ironed my hair.” The man looked at her with a sheepish grin.
“You did what?!”
“I got my sister’s flatiron and ironed a piece of my hair, tried to see if I should grow it out. She suggested it… said I look better wit’ longer hair.” The insane man looped one of his thick, long fingers around a few black strands and tugged, showing her his handiwork. That bit of hair was slightly straighter than the rest, but did in fact appear longer.
“So, what’s your conclusion?”
“I’mma cut it again. I was bored… I don’t know how you all do this to yourself every day. The mascara, lipstick, lashes ’nd shit. The fancy soaps for this part of your body and that part of your body, the lotions, the moisturizers, the shavin’, the hair curlin’ and trimmin’, straightenin’ and permin’. The bra shoppin’, the panty wearin’ that crawl up your damn asses just so a line don’t show through the back of your damn slacks, the undergarments to hide your fuckin’ muffin top, the jeans to make ya look like your asses are bigger than they are, the waist trainers not for exercise but to uh… what’s the word?”
“Look snatched.” She smirked, then giggled.
“Yeah! Look snatched. On and on it goes… pantyhose, high heels, hair dyes, special conditioners, perfumes to attract a guy, perfumes to piss off another woman, Hell! What in the world?! It’s some shit… what a crazy way to live! Just dump my ass in the shower, slap on some deodorant and cologne, brush my damn teeth, and send my ass out the door!”
“Bull! Have you forgotten that you’re a bodybuilder and spend a lot of your time making your body look as if it is made of granite?”
“Well, yeah, but that’s different ’cause—”
“It’s not different. You’re obsessed with your physical image. You even have to shave before your shows; you lather up with oil so your muscles look more defined before a show and in everyday life you do a little of that on occasion, too. I’ve seen you getting dressed, Langston. You flirt with yourself in the mirror… looking at your image from various angles and making those strange facial expressions as you do. It’s hilarious.”
He gave a half smile. “That ain’t true. See, that’s just me makin’ sure I’m shaved good is all. Makin’ sure my beard is even, not patchy.”
“Lies! The lightning gonna strike you down!” She chortled. “You do smell good though… it’s nice.”
“Thank you, I did it for you. That’s how I splurge on myself. I like nice cologne. Cost me an arm and a leg but it was worth it. Figured I’d whip out the good stuff since you was comin’ on by. Gotta smell nice for my baby… ’specially since I’m tryna get up close and personal with you.”
She winked at him as he got to his feet and headed into the kitchen.
“Can I help you?” she called out when she heard the oven opening, the refrigerator door closing, and other noises of the man moving about.
“I got it, baby. You need a refill on your wine?”
“I could use a bit more.”
“All right, gimme just a minute.”
She crossed her legs and relaxed, bobbing her head to the beat of the music. It had been a difficult couple of days with the recent threat of Sebastian and his impromptu visit looming over her head. She’d told her mother and Uncle Sonny but no one else. She didn’t want people to worry, to offer advice that wasn’t helpful, to meddle or to blame her for the current circumstances.
I’m not moving back to Dallas… at least not right now. He is still trying to boss me around, and it’s not for the well-being of our son; it’s so he can control everything, stick his nose in my business. He doesn’t like that I’m dating, but that’s none of his business either.
It still irked her how the man’s words played over and over in her mind. Sebastian had laid it all out, made it clear…
She was struggling financially, she had their son in a part of a town not necessarily known for academic achievement, and she was dating a man who, despite having a heart of gold, was blue collar and could barely make ends meet.
Money ain’t everything, but I believe in the power of God. I know I won’t be broke forever. I got this grocery store; I got plans and ideas… I got my boy and my man and my mama, daddy, and sisters, too… I don’t need a man’s money. I need a man’s respect, honor, and love… and that’s what I’ve got.
She smiled and crossed her arms along the table, rested her chin on her elbow, and stared off into space.
“Shit!” she yelled when Langston came up behind her, then laughed. “Boy! You scared the Hay-Zeus outta me!” She sat up, grabbed the wine glass the man had just refilled, and took a sip.
“I’m sorry, baby. You was lost in thought, huh?” He set her plate down on the table, as well as small salt and pepper shakers.
“Yeah, seems I was.” She took hold of her fork and poked around with the food on her plate.
Steam rose from the yellow rice and string beans. Everything looked perfectly prepared. A flawlessly cooked and delicious smelling quarter of baked chicken sat on her plate as well, along with a buttery biscuit. He set his plate down next, grabbed a paper towel from the roll sitting on the table, and placed it over his lap.
“Sorry, I don’t have no linens. Maybe I’ll buy some from Walmart soon.” He scooped a big spoonful of rice into his mouth.
“Don’t worry about it. I’m not too bougie.” She grinned as she grabbed a paper towel for herself and set it across her lap.
“Yeah you are, you just real nice about it.” He cracked up, but s
he was far from amused.
“How do you figure? I don’t walk around here like I’m better than everyone.”
“Naw, you don’t. But you have a certain caliber, you know… some things you like, a high baseline, as they say. You don’t like cheap stuff. I can tell. You’ll settle for it, but you don’t like it. That’s good; I’m the same way. I’ve always had big dreams, liked nice shit. Ain’t nothin’ wrong wit’ strivin’ for better. We should be, right?”
She simmered down and agreed with the man. How could she not? He was right.
“Yeah, we should always strive for better. That’s true. This chicken is delicious, baby.” She cut another piece from the bone. It practically melted on her tongue.
“Good, glad you like it. Hey, let me ask you something.” He took another taste from his drink.
“Yeah?”
“You think you’ll stay in Elsa forever now?” She looked into the man’s eyes and wondered what was going on inside his head. So many questions arose in her own mind at the utterance of those words.
“Why? You afraid I’mma leave?” She smiled, fairly certain that was the apex of his concerns.
“I want you to leave.”
“What?” She burst out laughing, more from shock than anything else. She set her fork down.
“No, you don’t understand. See, I love you, baby, but I don’t plan on livin’ here forever. I’ve stayed this long ’cause of my family. They need me, but I gotta live for myself, too. I see myself still in the south, just not Elsa is all. And don’t get me wrong, Elsa ain’t all bad, all right? But I’ve outgrown this place. I find it depressin’ at times, too. I fantasized, and Lord, I hope this doesn’t freak you out…” He took a deep breath. “Never mind. Just forget I even brought it up.”
Grabbing his fork, he tore into the string beans with the edge of the utensil.
“No, tell me.” She leaned across the table and rested her hand on his. “We can talk about anything, all right? Don’t ever be afraid to share your thoughts with me, even if you don’t think I’ll understand.”
He sat there for a minute, as if needing to convince himself that she was true blue.
“All right. I, uh, I fantasize about you, me, and Noah movin’ maybe to Houston or somewhere. I even had a dream about it… I have those sometimes. We was in a big house, pretty as could be, and we both travelled back to Elsa at least once a month. Noah was goin’ to a good school and both of us was makin’ good money. We was happy… real happy.” The man’s complexion deepened.
“That is one of the sweetest things I’ve ever heard.”
“Well, it’s true. I, uh, I think about you like that… It’s new for me, but it feels natural too, if that makes sense.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I tend to fall in love hard; that is, when I do fall in love. I like women, always have, you know, my mama can attest to that.” He chuckled. “I was a flirt even as a little boy, but, uh, you make me feel like I can do somethin’ with myself. You gives me hope, baby. I’m known for bein’ real optimistic, but sometimes, that’s a lie.”
She could’ve sworn the man’s eyes sheened, but he shut them too fast for her to be certain.
“See, sometimes I get down in the dumps and I think… I think, ain’t nothin’ gonna change. I’m still gonna be driving that fuckin’ truck, breakin’ my back. Don’t get me wrong, I got a good job and make enough to take care of myself. I ain’t ungrateful, but baby, I don’t know…” He shrugged then tossed down his fork. “I want more. I want to be able to do for my parents without goin’ to the fucking pawnshop, then hidin’ the fact from ’em or tryna explain to ’em later where the hell my TV is to cover my tracks.
“I want to be able to help my sisters and brothers, too, and my nieces and nephews so they can have great birthdays and Christmases. I want to be able to go out and buy you a new car and not think twice about it.” She grabbed his hand and squeezed it. Those gorgeous, light brown golden eyes of his looked like they were moons falling into the ocean… wet and dreamy. “I got ideas but, uh… I don’t know where to start. I ain’t like you. I’m good wit’ figures, but business? I wouldn’t even know how to begin.” He dropped his head. “I know I come off as confident, arrogant even sometimes, but the truth is that sometimes…” He swallowed. “I don’t have a lot of faith in myself. I feel stuck.”
Yasmine cut into her chicken, took a bite, and chewed real slow. She then shoved her plate away, although she wasn’t done yet.
“Look at me.” He did as she asked. “If you dreamt it, then you chase that dream. Nothing happens by accident—us meeting one another, you saving my life, Noah looking up to you. My son doesn’t trust anyone, do you hear me?” She pointed at him to emphasize her words. “The fact that he took right to you is unheard of! So much so, he blabbed to his father about it, and now the man is jealous.”
She briefly closed her eyes, praying she wasn’t making a mistake by continuing along her path of thought. “Langston, my ex is so jealous of you and how Noah and I are gettin’ on just fine without him, that he is now telling me that if I don’t move back to Dallas, give up the store and everything, he is gonna take me to court and file for full custody of Noah.”
“WHAT?!”
“You heard me! I found out that Noah was in Dallas talkin’ about how great mama’s new boyfriend is, how he likes the store, things like that. He hated it here in Elsa when we first came but because of you, he is doing better now. Sebastian can’t stand it! He wanted us to be miserable! I don’t think he knows what he’s doing; I don’t think he understands what’s driving it. He’s not that self-aware, never was, but—”
“But you told me Noah told him a long time ago he ain’t wanna live with him. He wanted to stay with you!” The man threw up his hands.
“He did, but he is tryna say he can get that thrown away ’cause of the best interest of the child… sayin’ we aren’t in a good part of town, the schools aren’t the greatest, things like that.”
“Give me this motherfucker’s number! Lemme talk to him!” Langston was on his feet faster than a turkey racing away from a farm on Thanksgiving Eve. He lunged towards her phone but she grabbed it just in time.
“No, no! Calm down, Langston. You’ll just make it worse, all right? I’m gonna handle this. If you fly off the handle, he’ll use that in court against me, too.”
Langston’s chest heaved up and down, and his nostrils were flared like an enraged bull’s. After a while, he flopped down in his chair and crossed his arms over his broad chest, looking like a big, angry giant.
“Now look, I got plans, all right? You brought up me movin’ from here, and that’s in the plans, too, but I ain’t gonna let my ex-husband dictate when and where. All of our marriage he did that, and he is still trying to. I will fight him, you hear me? Now, I want to get back on track here. Before I brought this up, you were talkin’ about how you weren’t business minded but I beg to differ.”
“I don’t want to talk about me and my shit right now, Yaz,” he stated dismissively, then downed the rest of his wine.
“I know you’re angry, but I need you to listen to me. Take a deep breath.”
He looked at her like he wanted to say something smart, but with a grimace, he did as he was told.
“So Langston, baby, you are business minded. In our everyday lives, we are taught business skills but many of us ignore these teachings. First of all, you make deliveries. You have a time frame to do it. That’s business. You are on your own in the field. You’re good at it or you woulda been fired. Secondly, you go all over the state to take part in bodybuilding shows. You’re dedicated. You make sure you’re eatin’ right and exercising. You’re a gym rat. I know if my man isn’t answering his phone he is either workin’ or in that damn gym. That gym is your second home. You’ve learned to manage your time better because now you’ve got a girlfriend, too, and I’m busy and about to start night classes online while I’m home with Noah.
“Yo
u’re creative, funny and a good listener. Those can all be used in business, Lang. Now, tell me what idea you had that you’ve been sittin’ on.”
His lips curled in a smile. “You’ll think it’s stupid.”
“Boy, if you don’t stop it! Tell me what the hell it is.”
“Well, I’m good at makin’ smoothies.”
“Yes, people like smoothies. So, let me ask you, what makes your smoothies better than someone else’s?”
“Better ingredients, made for people who lift weight, not bitter or flavorless. I don’t use any artificial sweeteners and I can tailor ’em to what people need. I also found a way to make their shelf life last for up to three days, ’cause sometimes I gotta do bigger batches and don’t have time to make ’em fresh each time. I might be workin’ a double shift, things like that. Christmas is comin’ and I won’t be home much. That’s the busy season, but I want my shakes. I even make them at work sometimes and share the mixture with my coworkers. They ask for ’em… especially the energy ones. One guy started offering me money to make him some. That’s what gave me the idea, actually. My Dad even loves ’em and he don’t like shit like that.”
“See? You’ve identified your product. You’ve told me there’s the need for it and what makes you different from others. You’ve already used a target audience. That’s a business brain, Langston! You can’t sell yourself short and you don’t even see what’s goin’ on here!”
“What’s goin’ on besides me makin’ plans to drive over to Dallas and give Sa-BASHIN’ a bashin’ of a lifetime?”
She rolled her eyes at the man. “Would you please listen to me and leave that idea alone? Look, you’ve got a business plan! At least the start of one. What you need to do is invest in yourself. Research further, market it further. Once you do that, I can put some of the smoothies in my grocery store.” She could see by the look in the man’s eyes that he was astonished.
