Sister Girls

by Angel Hunter

  “Lange, please don’t leave like this.”

  “Please, Crystal. I just need to think.”

  Crystal stood up. “About what? Going back home to your wife?”

  Lange didn’t answer her. He turned toward the door and she turned with him only to see Roger walking in with two men.

  They spotted one another at the same time. Roger excused himself from his group and headed toward them. He looked at Lange and back to Crystal.

  “What’s up, man?” Lange greeted. “I was just leaving.”

  Roger nodded in response and watched Lange walk out the door. “What was that all about?”

  “We were discussing that case I told you about.”

  “He seemed pretty upset,” Roger commented.

  “It’s not going as well as we expected.” Crystal could see that Roger didn’t believe a word she was saying.

  “Really?” he asked.

  Before Crystal could think of another lie, she was saved by the ring of her cell phone. “Hello.”

  It was Susan. “Where are you? I’ve been trying to call you.”

  “Hold on.” She placed her hand over the mouthpiece and told Roger it was a client.

  “I have to get back to my peeps. I’ll let you go.”

  “All right.” Crystal kissed him on the cheek, hoping that would pacify him for the moment.

  “Call me later,” Roger told her.

  “I will.”

  Crystal walked out the door and placed the phone back to her ear, “I’m back.”

  “What’s up? Where are you?” Susan asked.

  “Headed to your house, if you don’t mind. I need to talk.”

  “Sure, come on.”

  Susan was sitting on the couch sipping a cup of tea when Crystal arrived. “So, what’s up?”

  “Girl, I’ve messed up,” Crystal said.

  “Why, what happened?”

  “What do you want to hear about first, my breakfast with Lena this morning, my lunch with Lange when I told him about seeing Lena at the mall with her lover, or about Roger walking in on us and acting suspicious?”

  Susan shook her head. “Well, damn.”

  “I know, right?” Crystal plopped down on the couch. “My life is a mess.”

  “Girl, please. Your problems are nothing compared to mine.”

  Crystal told Susan about her breakfast with Lena and her request. “But the way she said it and the way she looked at me, it was like she was taunting me, like she was saying she’s the wife and I will never be.”

  “Don’t you think you’re reading too much into it?” Susan asked. Crystal threw her hands up. “I don’t know. Maybe I am.”

  “You never said what’s going on with you and Roger.”

  “He asked me to be his lady.”

  “And?”

  “I’m not ready for that.”

  “Then you need to tell him, not lead him on.”

  “I know, girl. I know.” They grew silent, each lost in her own thoughts.

  “You know Tina’s trial starts next week,” Crystal said.

  “Are you nervous about seeing Jake?”

  “Honestly, I don’t know.” On that note, Timothy walked into the house.

  “Hey, ladies.” Crystal stood up and gave him a hug.

  “You’re looking as handsome as ever.” Timothy rubbed his chin.

  “Well, you know. What can I say?”

  “So, when is the wedding date?” Crystal asked them as she sat back down. Susan told her the date.

  “That’s six weeks from now. Is that enough time?”

  “Yeah, we want something small and intimate. As a matter of fact, I wanted to ask you to do me a favor.”

  “What is it? Anything I can do, I will.”

  “Will you be my maid of honor?”

  Crystal smiled and gave Susan a big hug. “Of course. I’d love to. I’d be honored.”

  Timothy smiled and said, “I’ll leave you two alone.” He headed up the stairs.

  “Enough with my drama. How’s your counseling going?”

  “It’s going well. You should go see her.”

  Crystal knew Susan was right. She was holding on to so much resentment toward her mother, toward men. She could feel it hindering her, blocking her blessings. She didn’t like not talking to her mother, but she just couldn’t get past the fact that she was dating Mr. Newton. “You have her card?”

  Susan stood up. “Yeah, let me go get it. Oh, before I forget, Elsie called and wanted to know if we wanted to do dinner with her and Jewell tonight.”

  “I really don’t feel like it,” Crystal told her.

  “That’s understandable. I’ll just tell her you were busy.” On that note, Susan went to get Dr. Elliot’s business card.

  Crystal visited with Susan a little longer. When she arrived home, there were two messages on her answering service: one from her mother, and the other from Roger. Crystal was hoping Lange had called, but at the same time, she knew she would have to give him more time.

  She picked up the phone and dialed her mother’s number. She hadn’t spoken to her mother since her visit. As stubborn as it might sound, she probably wouldn’t be speaking to her now if her mother had not said it was urgent.

  THIRTY YEARS YOUNG

  It was Jewell’s birthday. Not only was she surprised with a bonus check and a raise, but Evan and King both sent bouquets of flowers to the job. When she looked at herself in the mirror, Jewell felt as though she was aging quite well. No wrinkles, no gray hair. One child. Life was good.

  Evan was taking her out to dinner and to the theater. They were going to see the play Chicago. She’d seen the movie a number of times and was looking forward to seeing it performed live.

  Jewell left work a little early so she could go to the mall to buy something special to wear—something sexy yet not too revealing. After all, it was her special night, and this would be the first time she’d made a big deal out of it. Normally, she and Tyson would just have dinner and rent a movie. This year was different. Not only was she living alone, but she received a raise. Therefore, she decided to treat herself to a day of beauty at a local spa. She’d get the works—a body scrub, a massage, facial, manicure and pedicure. She was in the mood to be pampered.

  When Jewell arrived home five hours later, she was so relaxed from her spa treatment that she just wanted to lay down and luxuriate in the feeling of peace and tranquility it gave. This wasn’t possible because she had to get ready for her date. Waiting for her at the door was a package from Evan. She carried it into the house along with the bags she’d brought from the mall.

  Like an impatient child, she ripped it open. When Jewell saw what it was, she started jumping up and down. “Oh my God! Oh my God!” Evan bought her a mink coat. Throwing off her leather coat, she let it hit the floor and put on her mink. She ran her hands up and down the front and went to look in the mirror. She looked on the arm and the inside for a price tag, but no such luck. Evan had more taste than that. After prancing in the coat for five minutes, she took it off and draped it on the arm of the chair. She went into her room, laid across the bed and recalled her childhood birthdays. There were no parties, nintey-nine-cent gifts, and she was lucky if she got a birthday card.

  That was why she vowed that when she got older and had kids, she would go all out for them on their birthdays. She did just that with Tyson, showing him how much he was loved and appreciated. Not that he couldn’t tell, but his birthdays were extra special. She didn’t want her child growing up feeling like she did—unloved and unimportant. She knew that it played a number on her mind and self-esteem. She wanted Tyson to believe he was a king and he could do all and be all.

  Jewell glanced at the clock and saw that she had exactly one hour to prepare for her date with Evan. She went into the bathroom, reached under the cabinet to pull out her chocolate soufflé bath scrub, and turned on the shower. She took off her clothes and was about to step in the shower when she heard the doorbell.

/>   Jewell turned the water off, put on her robe and walked down the hall. “I’m coming, I’m coming,” she yelled.

  Jewell went to the door and peeked through the peephole. King and Tyson were standing there with what looked like her favorite snack—ice cream cake.

  She unlocked and opened the door. She bent over and kissed Tyson on the forehead. “This is a surprise.”

  Tyson and King started to sing the ghetto version of “Happy Birthday.” All the while, King looked her up and down, undressing her with his eyes.

  Jewell laughed and told them, “Thank you.” She placed the cake in the freezer.

  “What? You’re not going to cut it now?” King asked.

  “I’m going out in less than an hour. I was about to get in the shower.”

  “Are we still going to dinner tomorrow, Ma?” Tyson asked.

  “Of course, sweetie. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

  King asked, “So, what are your plans for tonight? Are you going out with your friend?”

  The way he said “your friend,” Jewell knew he was talking about Evan. “Yes, as a matter of fact I am.”

  King took Tyson’s hand and said, “Well, I guess we better be leaving now.”

  Before Jewell could respond, King and Tyson were out of the kitchen. Tyson turned around and said, “See you tomorrow Ma!”

  Jewell didn’t know what to do. She could tell that King was pissed, but shit, he was going on with his life. She saw the hoochie he went out with the week before, so how dare he be upset? You can’t have your cake and eat it too, Jewell thought. But then again, who was she to say that? If she could have her cake and eat it too, she would.

  When Evan arrived, he had a smug look on his face.

  “What’s with the look?” Jewell asked.

  “I have something extra special planned for you tonight.”

  “Better than the mink?” Jewell asked. She was still in disbelief. She never thought that this girl from the projects would own a real fur. She must have thanked him twenty times.

  “It’s up there,” Evan said.

  “Did I tell you I love it?” Jewell asked.

  “A number of times.”

  “It’s beautiful.”

  “For a beautiful person,” he responded.

  Jewell felt just that way. She had found a Georgio Armani dress on clearance for under two hundred dollars. Normally, she would never spend that much on a piece of clothing, but the color drew her to it. It was a cranberry silk blended with cashmere. It stopped just above her thighs. She wore Barely There stockings by Hanes that matched the color of her skin perfectly. Her 4-inch heels shaped her legs, making her look like a runner, and she had applied her makeup to perfection. That dress, those shoes and the makeup under the mink was perfection.

  “Are you ready?” Evan asked.

  “Yes.” Jewell was ready ever since she woke up.

  The musical was excellent. She loved it. The singing and the dancing inspired her so much. When Jewell was a little girl, she had wanted to be a dancer. She could recall standing in front of the mirror, mimicking the girls at the ballet class that she used to sneak into on the way home from school. Sometimes she would get so caught up in the fluidity, the beauty of it all, that she would arrive home late.

  “Where the hell have you been?” her mother would yell. “Don’t you know that I’ve been worried sick about you?”

  Jewell didn’t dare tell her mother where she had been. Once when she asked her mother for dance lessons, the answer was, “No, we can’t afford it. You need to concentrate on other things. Plus, that kind of dancing is for white girls.”

  Jewell begged and pleaded almost every day for two weeks, but the answer stayed the same. Eventually the dream faded. While Jewell sat in the theater, she found the flame being rekindled. Yes, she was thirty now, and to some it might appear late to pursue a childhood dream, but she could at least start taking dance lessons. It would be fun and a form of exercise.

  After the show, they were allowed backstage to say hello to the cast members. As it turned out, Evan was related to one of the co-stars. Her name was Lynn.

  Jewell didn’t think her birthday could get any better.

  The night moved along smoothly. They were sipping on champagne when Evan said, “Jewell?”

  “Yes?”

  “Have you thought about us getting more serious?”

  “Well, how much more serious do you want to get?” Jewell asked, a little irritated that he was going there. There was no way she could get serious with him when she’d just discovered her real feelings for King.

  “Evan, I’m not ready to be serious. I like how things are between us. My son just moved in with his dad and for the first time, I’m getting to know myself—the real me. Not the mother, not the workhorse, but Jewell. I have free time that I value. I really don’t have to answer to anyone, and I’m enjoying this time. I’m not ready to give it up yet.”

  Evan acted like he didn’t even hear her. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a box.

  Jewell had to catch her breath. From the shape of the box she could tell that it held a ring. Please don’t let this be happening, she said to herself over and over. Maybe if she repeated it enough, he’d change his mind.

  No such luck. Evan opened the box and pulled out a ring. Jewell couldn’t believe her eyes. It was beautiful. She couldn’t tell if it was white gold or platinum. What she could tell was that the diamond was over a carat, maybe even two. Jewell glanced around and noticed quite a few people looking their way.

  “Jewell, I know we haven’t been seeing each other for long, but I can’t deny what I feel. I think about you all the time, and I want to be with you. I’m not asking you to say yes. I’m just asking you to think about it, consider it.” He placed the ring on the table in front of her.

  Although he didn’t actually say “marry me,” Jewell knew that’s what he was thinking. If she didn’t still have these feelings for King, she would probably have said yes. She lowered her normal speaking tone so the surrounding parties couldn’t hear her and told him, “Evan, I can’t accept this ring. Even though you said you don’t expect me to say yes, I’d feel like I would be making promises I can’t keep.”

  “You do care for me, don’t you?” Evan asked.

  “Of course I do,” Jewell told him.

  “I’m not saying let’s do it today, next week or even next month. I’m asking you to consider it, at least.”

  She didn’t want to consider it, so she didn’t reply.

  “Listen. How about this? How about wearing it on your left hand as a promise ring?”

  With people looking their way, Jewell didn’t want to embarrass him any more than she felt she already had. She took the ring off the table and said, “Okay.”

  Evan smiled and relaxed back into his chair.

  “But Evan, please understand that this does not mean we’re engaged.”

  When Evan left the next morning, Jewell called Elsie and told her what happened.

  “Are you out of your mind?” Elsie asked. “Why are you leading that man on like that?”

  “I don’t know.” Jewell did feel bad. She took the ring off the second he walked out the door.

  “What are you going to do when King finds out?”

  “Ain’t nothing to find out.”

  “Yeah, okay. I don’t know who you think you’re fooling,” Elsie said, “other than Evan.”

  They hung up shortly after, and Jewell knew she would have to give the ring back. She glanced over at it, back in the box where she placed it, and thought, It’s a damn shame I have to give that ring up.

  She also knew that by turning Evan down she was making a decision about King. She was ready to give it another try, but it had to be on her terms.

  I CAN’T DO THIS

  “What was that all about?” Summer asked Elsie when she hung up her cell phone.

  “Oh, nothing. Jewell and her man problems.”

  They were in t
he grocery store. The week had been a rough one for Elsie. She saw Janay twice and Summer was putting the pressure on more every day about the status of their relationship. Janay had even asked a time or two about them seeing one another exclusively. Elsie wasn’t stupid. There was no way she was going to leave Summer for Janay. If she was going to jet, it would be because she was no longer content with where they were in their relationship. She’d finally admitted to herself that she wasn’t.

  As they were standing in line, Elsie felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned around. Standing behind her was Janay with another woman.

  “Well, isn’t this a surprise?” Janay said. She looked over at Summer who stared at her like she wanted to whoop her ass.

  Elsie started to put the food on the counter.

  Janay put her hand out and said, “I’m Janay. And you must be Summer.”

  Summer shook her hand and nodded. Elsie glanced at her out of the corner of her eyes. She could tell that Summer didn’t trust herself to speak. Elsie looked at Janay and rolled her eyes. Janay knowing Summer’s name was a dead giveaway that they’d seen one another. Elsie hoped Janay wasn’t trying to be funny.

  “Hey, Janay. What’s up?”

  “Nothing. Elsie, this is Jasmine. Jasmine, Elsie and Summer.”

  Elsie took her in quickly. Actually, she couldn’t help but notice how beautiful Jasmine was. She looked like she was biracial, black and perhaps Chinese. She was slim but curvy, and smiled a perfect smile. “Hello.”

  Elsie was jealous.

  “That’ll be $79.11,” the cashier said.

  Glad to be distracted, and uncomfortable with Summer’s silence, Elsie said to Janay, “It was nice seeing you.” She turned around to push the cart and leave the store as soon as possible.

  Janay wasn’t letting her get away that easy. “How about we all do lunch or dinner sometimes?”

  To this, Summer spoke up. “Not in this lifetime.”

  Elsie shrugged her shoulders and they were out the door.

  Once outside, Summer looked at Elsie with darts in her eyes. “What the hell was that all about?”

  “Don’t make a scene,” Elsie said.

  “Don’t make a scene? You’re actually going to stand there a tell me not to make a scene when it’s obvious something is up?”