“We could split the rent five ways,” Rhyann responds.
Divine nods in approval. “I like that idea.”
We continue discussing our plans for college as we finish off the nachos. Alyssa and I clean the kitchen while Divine wipes down the table. Rhyann and Mimi sit on the sofa going through a stack of movies.
I jump at the sound of the doorbell ringing.
Miss Lucy walks out of the bathroom and says, “I’ll get it.”
My chest tightens at the thought of my mother standing on the other side of the door. The girls and I are having a good time, and I don’t want her to come and ruin everything for me.
I relax when Miss Marilee walks through the front door.
“Is there a party and nobody told me about it?” she inquires with a grin.
“You’re welcome to hang out with us,” I say. “We made some chicken nachos earlier, but we ate it all.”
“Maybe next time,” she says. “I actually came over to rescue Lucy. We are going out for a nice quiet dinner, and then we’re going to catch a movie. You girls behave while we’re gone.”
“We will,” we say in unison.
I’m thrilled to see Miss Lucy getting out and enjoying herself. She needs to do that more often instead of always looking out for me. She’s totally opposite of my mama, that’s for sure.
In another few minutes, Chandler calls me. I go into the bathroom to chat with him in private for a few minutes.
“I’ll call you back later. The girls are here now.”
“Oh yeah,” he says. “I forgot Mimi went to your place. Call me back.”
“I will.”
I open the door to the bathroom.
Divine, Rhyann, and Mimi are practically facedown on the floor. Alyssa doubles over in laughter.
“What are y’all doing?” I can’t control my laughter. “That’s what you get for being so nosy.”
They laugh.
“I can’t believe you busted us like that,” Rhyann tells me.
“I can tiptoe softer than a mosquito. Miss Lucy and I live in real close quarters, so we try to be quiet around here. Now that y’all got your faces all cracked, let’s go watch the movie.”
“All right now . . . ,” Mimi murmurs. “My brother’s got it going on . . .”
My face heats up.
“Don’t be shamed,” Alyssa tells me. “Having a boyfriend is great. I don’t know what I’d do without Stephen.”
“I don’t want Chandler to become my entire world,” I say.
“I know that’s right,” Rhyann contributes. “Girls, we have to stay focused so we can get our tails in college.”
“So, are you completely over Madison?” Mimi asks Divine.
“I am,” she responds. “At first I was really hurt, and I felt the same sadness I used to feel when I lived out here.”
“Your life is perfect, Divine,” I interject. “I can’t really imagine why you’d ever be sad about anything.”
Her smile disappears. “Girl, my life sucks sometimes just like everybody else’s. It might look all glamorous to other people, but it was not like that. When my parents were married, we were miserable. Jerome was cheating on my mom and treating her bad. On top of that, he was always getting himself arrested for something—I was so embarrassed. It was not until I moved in with my aunt and uncle that I realized this was Jerome’s problem and not mine. I had to forgive him, and when I got to the point where I could, that’s when I could hold my head up. You have to get to that place with your mom.”
“I understand what you’re saying,” I tell Divine. “My mama has gotten herself in trouble with the law a few times, too. I just want to be a normal teen.”
“I know that’s right,” Rhyann throws in. “We’re supposed to be enjoying our youth and not having to deal with a bunch of drama.”
I pick a pillow off the sofa and clutch it to my chest. “I have to be real honest with y’all. I still don’t know why you’d want to be my friend. My life is on the crazy side thanks to my mama.”
“It’s not your fault. We don’t get to pick our parents, Kylie.” Rhyann embraces me. “We love you just because you’re you, and together we’ll get through whatever you have to deal with.”
I smile. “I feel the same way about y’all.”
“You and I are a lot alike,” Divine tells me. “I never approved of my dad’s lifestyle. At one time, I really thought that I hated Jerome.”
“How did you mend your relationship?”
“I gave him another chance to get it right.”
“Was this before he went to prison?”
Divine shakes her head. “This all happened while he was incarcerated. Kylie, I had to forgive him.”
My face darkens at that thought. “I don’t know how to forgive my mama. Every time that I think I can, she does something else to me.”
“Kylie, I hope you won’t get mad at me, but I have to say this because I’ve been there. You may not approve of your mother’s lifestyle, but you have to forgive her.”
I hear what Divine is saying. I am just not sure I can ever forgive my mama.
The next morning, we wake up to Divine’s excited chirping. She drops her cell phone, saying, “We have backstage passes to see Mary J. Blige. My mom got us passes.”
“That’s nice,” I say, rubbing my eyes. “I hope y’all have fun.”
“Kylie, you’re going with us,” Divine announces. “She got enough for all of us to go.”
My eyes fill with tears. “Are you serious? I’m actually gonna be backstage at a Mary J. Blige concert?”
Divine nods, a huge grin on her face. “Yeah, girl . . .”
“I’m so glad,” I say. “Right now, I need something to look forward to for a change. My mama is really stressing me out.”
“What happened?” Mimi asks.
I give them a quick rundown of her recent visit.
Rhyann shakes her head and says, “Wow . . . that’s some crazy stuff right there. Now she’s trying to move in with you and Miss Lucy.”
“I don’t know where she is, and I’m getting worried about her,” I say. “I tried calling her cell phone, but it’s been disconnected. She’s not at the apartment anymore—she really was evicted.”
Rhyann gives me a hug. “Your mama is a survivor, Kylie. I’m sure she’s fine and you’ll be hearing from her soon.”
“You really think so?” I ask.
“She found you at the salon, and then here, didn’t she? Your mom knows where you are, so she’ll come to you when she’s ready.”
Chapter 19
Saturday is finally here and we’re on our way to see Mary J. Blige. I can’t believe I’m hanging with my girls in a stretch limo.
This is nice. Real nice.
When we arrive at the Coliseum, I cannot contain my excitement any longer.
“I’ve never had backstage passes to anywhere,” I squeak in a high-pitched voice. “This is so cool. I’m like this close to the performers.” Pacing back and forth, I say, “I can’t believe it. Can y’all believe this. I’m here. Here backstage. Coool.”
Divine chuckles at my blabbering nonstop like an idiot. I don’t think I’ve stopped talking since we stepped out of the limo—my first limo ride. I’m definitely not trying to go the princess route, but with my new dress, fresh perm, flat ironed hair, and VIP treatment, I feel like royalty.
“Kylie, if you’re freaking out now, then I don’t know what you’re going to do when you meet my mom.”
“Hey, I couldn’t even go up into the pulpit at my grandma’s church back home, so this is a really big deal for me,” I say. “I can’t believe I’m actually gonna meet Miss Mary J. and watch her sing from back here. Then we’re spending the night at your house. Wow.”
I’m so happy right now that I break out into a little dance.
“Okaay,” Divine utters. “Kylie, you just lost some cool points. Don’t you ever do that dance again.”
I laugh.
The co
ncert is . . . I don’t have any words for it. I have not had so much fun or danced so much in a long time.
Afterward, we are ushered back to our limo and head to Divine’s house. I have never been there before. Her mother has been away for the past couple of weeks, so she and Alyssa have been staying with Mimi. Kara Matthews and her fiancé, Kevin Nash, are in town this weekend, and Divine’s invited all of us to stay over.
I feel like I’ve stepped into heaven when I walk into the house. Mimi’s house is large and beautifully decorated, but Divine’s house seems twice as large.
My mouth drops open at the sight of her bedroom. “Divine, you can fit my whole town in here.”
Her mother and Kevin are downstairs to greet us after we put our overnight bags in Divine’s bedroom. They announce that we’re having a late dinner, so we follow them into the dining room.
I’ve never seen a table that seats twelve people. This is so nice, I think to myself.
Divine looks over at me and says, “I think you should tell everyone the good news.”
Everyone is watching me and waiting.
“I’m going back to school in the fall,” I announce. “I have to take some online classes in addition to my regular schedule in order to graduate in time, but I’ll do whatever it takes.”
“That means you’ll be graduating with us,” Mimi realizes.
“I won’t be at the same school with you,” I say. “I’ll be at Belmont High School and then community college. There’s no way I can pay for Spelman, and I don’t want to have to deal with student loans.”
Divine’s mother wipes her mouth with the edge of her napkin. She has an announcement of her own. “Kylie, I spoke to the headmaster at Stony Hills Prep and told him about you. He would like to set up a meeting with you and your mother. He’s positive that he can get you a full scholarship, but even if he can’t, I told him that I would pay your tuition. Marilee and I had a long conversation about you, and from what she’s told me, I believe you would do well at Stony Hills Prep.”
At this unbelievably great news, my eyes fill with tears and overflow. I wipe my face with my napkin. “You don’t have to do that, Miss Kara.”
“From everything Marilee has told me, I know that you have great potential. It truly takes a village to raise a child.” She levels a finger at me. “I really believe that, and I’m willing to put my money where my mouth is, sweetheart.”
“As for college, you don’t have to worry about that, either,” Kevin Nash contributes. “I would like to cover those expenses for you and Rhyann. I feel the same way as Kara.” He motions around the grand dining room. “We have been blessed beyond measure, and we have the ability to provide you with a good education. Let us do that for you. You can pay us back by becoming the best you can be.”
I wipe the tears from my eyes.
Rhyann says, “Thanks so much, Mr. Kevin, but I’m good. I already have an angel taking care of me. You take care of Kylie, and when we graduate from college and become established, we’ll do the same for someone else.”
“That’s right,” Kara agrees. “Pay it forward.”
Finally, I find my voice. “Mr. Nash, I can’t believe you want to do something like that for me. You, too, Miss Kara. Y’all don’t even know me like that. I appreciate everything y’all doing for me, but I’m pretty sure I can get some scholarships, and I’m willing to work my way through school. My mama has taken too many handouts from people,” I explain. “She doesn’t think she needs to work for anything, and I don’t want to be anything like her.”
“I find that admirable,” Kevin Nash replies. “However, I’m not offering you a handout. I’m investing in your future. I’m sowing into your life, and like Kara said—when you can, just pay it forward.”
“Thank y’all so much,” I manage through my tears. I send up a quick prayer to God for placing these people in my life. “I won’t let you down. I promise.”
We gather in Divine’s room to give her mother and Kevin Nash some privacy.
“I can’t believe I was invited to the wedding,” I say when we change into our pajamas.
“Girl, we told you, Kylie. You’re one of the fab five,” Divine states. “You have to be there.”
We stay up and talk most of the night. I’m having a wonderful time with my friends, but in the back of my mind, I can’t forget about my mama. I’m worried that we haven’t heard anything from her yet. Then again, she could be playing me.
I haven’t forgotten how manipulative she can be. I just hate not knowing where she is and how she’s living. I don’t really want to care, but I do, because I love her. She’s my mama.
Chapter 20
The sound of the doorbell cuts into my conversation with Miss Lucy. I was telling her about my date with Chandler and my visit to the USC campus.
“I’ll get it, Miss Lucy,” I shout, climbing off the leather sofa.
For a split second, I don’t recognize the woman standing at the door. I haven’t seen her in almost a month, and I’ve been so worried about her. “Mama?”
She nods and offers me a slight smile. “Yeah, it’s me. Believe it or not, it’s your mama.”
I can’t believe that woman wearing a short-sleeve, loose-fitting dress and no makeup is my mom. “I don’t know what to say.”
“You can let me into the apartment, for a start,” she says soberly. “I’d like to talk to you, Kylie. No game or ulterior motive. I just want to talk.”
Curious about this sudden change in her appearance and her demeanor, I step aside to let her enter.
She greets Miss Lucy and asks all the questions a concerned parent would ask while I stand there in shock.
My mama and Miss Lucy sit down on the sofa. Curious, I make myself comfortable on the floor.
“Mama, what’s up with the outfit?” I ask.
“I’ve been thinking about everything you been telling me, and it’s time that I make some changes in my life.” She raises her eyes to meet my gaze. “Kylie, I love you, even though I might not show it all of the time, and the truth is that I don’t wanna lose you. It hurt me something fierce when you ran away from home.”
I don’t respond.
“I got me a job,” Mama blurts out. “It’s just waitressing, but it’s a job.”
“That’s great,” I murmur. I feel like I am dreaming. For as long as I can remember, I’ve never known my mama to have any type of real job.
“Where are you staying?” I inquire, thinking she’s probably gonna try and hit us up one more time. Mama surprises me, though. “I’m living with a friend for now, but I plan on getting a place real soon. A place for us.”
Here we go. Some things just never change.
“So for how long this time?” I ask her, my voice tinged with frustration. “How long before we’re running out in the middle of the night? I can’t do that anymore. You don’t know how long you’ll be staying with this current man anyway.”
“My friend is not a man,” Mama quickly interjects. “I’m staying with a girlfriend. We’re both trying to save money, so we are splitting the expenses on a one-bedroom. I sleep on the sofa bed. Kylie, I know you don’t believe me, but I’ma change this time. I’m getting older and I don’t have nothing to show for it.”
I smile for the first time since she arrived. “I’m happy for you, Mama. I really am.”
It’s not a full smile because my mom has let me down so many times. She says this stuff and she will actually do right for a little while, but it never lasts. All I know is that my heart can’t bear another disappointment. I’m trying to get myself together and I don’t need my mom’s troubles holding me back.
“Please give me another chance, Kylie,” my mama pleads with me.
My arms folded across my chest, I respond, “I can’t deal with the drama.”
“I know I hurt you, Kylie, and I’m sorry.” Her eyes grow wet with unshed tears. “I’m not perfect—nobody is—but I’m willing to try to better myself. I have missed you so much.
Kylie, you were my best friend.”
“That’s part of the problem,” I say. “I didn’t want to be your friend. I wanted to be your daughter.”
“I had you so young, I didn’t know how to be a mom.”
“I don’t think anybody knows how to be a mother,” I retort. “You have to just do it. Grandma Ellen raised me because you were never home. My problem is that you didn’t even try to be a mom. You shouldn’t have had me if you didn’t want a child.”
“I wanted you, Kylie,” she countered. “Don’t you ever think that I didn’t. I loved you, but that did not stop me from wanting to have a life. I was young and I wanted to have fun.”
“And you want me to believe that you don’t want that anymore?”
“Not if it means losing you.”
That stops me for a few moments. “Mama, I don’t know what you want me to say. I’m glad you finally have a job and a place to live, but I’m pretty sure that in a few months, you’ll be back to your old self.”
My mom rises to her feet and shakes her head. “Kylie, not this time. I know that I let you down in the past, but I’m a different person now. You don’t have to believe me, but I will show you.”
I stand up as well, with my arms folded across my chest. “So where are you working?”
“The Red Lobster on Holt Street. It’s not too far from here.”
“You like it?”
She shrugs. “It’s a job. I’m still looking for something better.”
My mom sounds like she is sincere, but I’m still skeptical. This time I am going to just stand back and see what happens. I refuse to let her keep hurting me, and I can’t depend on her.
She suddenly starts crying.
I glance over at Miss Lucy before embracing my mama. “Kylie, I messed up big-time—I know that. But that doesn’t change the fact that I love you.”
I don’t like to see her cry. “Mama . . . don’t . . . please stop crying.”
Split Ends Page 15
