The Sunday Brunch Diaries

by Norma L. Jarrett

  I sang from a deep-rooted place. “Falling in love with J-e-s-u-s . . . is the best thing that I’ve ever done.” I fell on my knees and put my head down. I felt God’s hands wrapped around me.

  “Thank You, God, for loving me. Thank You, Lord, for answered prayer. Thank You for blessing me. I worship You for who You are.”

  I felt God’s presence, His touch, His warmth. After a minute He raised me from the floor. I went to the Psalms again. My eyes scoured the pages until I reached Psalm 127:3. “Children [are] a reward from Him.”

  God . . . it is a reward! I know you’ll give me everything I need to be a great mother. Lord, you know I’m frazzled at times. I can barely keep myself together, but I know you’ll guide me every step of the way. That’s it! I just have to take one step at a time . . .

  I turned and read more, this time from Proverbs 22:6. I read aloud, “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not turn from it.”

  His words liberated me, released me from my fears, and I let out a sigh of relief. Just like that I’d fallen out of fellowship. But this morning, I reconnected with God. It felt good hearing that clearly from Him. I really must rededicate my mornings to prayer.

  Suddenly, the Lord put Capri on my heart. I decided to buy a card and let her know I was thinking of her. We used to do little thoughtful things like that for each other, throughout our friendship. I can’t wait to share my news with her!

  Angel was right. I needed this praise break! I made sure I prayed for my friends and my business, and added a special prayer for Octavio and Angel. I covered all our marriages in the Blood of Jesus. Then I was off to work with a renewed Spirit.

  I had a spring in my step as I walked to my office building. While on the elevator I smiled at the older white gentleman standing next to me. He smiled back and his eyes twinkled as if he knew I was blessed. Yes, my light was truly shining. Normally, my eyes are fixed forward and my mind is running wildly down my mental to-do list. But not today, I was at peace. I was prayed up and ready to face the world with confidence. In one hand I held my briefcase and in the other I clutched a card for Capri.

  I walked off the elevator and into the office suite and heard voices.

  “Girl, did you see that outfit she had on? You know that was wife number two. She used to be married to that R & B singer. I guess she didn’t want to let that lifestyle go.”

  Capri’s office door was open and I heard a familiar voice.

  Missy. There was no way I could sneak by, but I thought I’d try.

  “Lexi,” Capri said as she caught me slinking past the door.

  I froze, then faced her doorway.

  “Hey, what’s going on? Are you in a rush? Come in for a minute,” she said.

  I inched into her office. “Hey ladies, I would sit and chitchat, but I got lots of work to do.”

  “Hi, Lexi,” Missy said and launched right back into her conversation.

  She does know my name.

  “Hey, Missy.”

  “How’s every little thing? I haven’t seen you since the book club meeting. Can’t wait for the next one,” she said as she waved her manicured left hand, with a rock so big it was blinging up the whole office. She had her red carpet look back on, with her hair pulled so tight I thought her temples were going to burst. Her makeup, from eye shadow to bronzer and lip gloss, was perfectly coordinated. She wore a fitted jacket, large Christian Dior belt, and pencil skirt. The diamond stud earrings were the only understated item adorning her body.

  “So Lexi, you can’t sit down for a minute? You work way too hard, girl . . .” Missy said.

  As soon as Missy looked my way, Capri rolled her eyes and mouthed, “Please get her outta here.”

  “Oh, sorry ladies . . . as you can see, I’m getting a late start today. Oh, here, this is for you.” I handed Capri the card.

  Missy sat up taller. “Oh, Capri, girl is it your birthday? Why didn’t you tell me? We have to go get something to eat now. Right now! Wow, what kind of friend am I?” she said as she playfully reached to slap Capri’s hand. And, quoting Ms. Beyoncé, “My mama taught me better than that.”

  Just when I wanted to give Missy credit for coming up higher. She couldn’t quote Maya Angelou or Nikki Giovanni? It looked like her well didn’t go any deeper than an R & B track. Missy had a high-octane personality like Jewel, but times seven. I knew Capri could only take Jewel in small doses. So why did she hang out with Missy so much? There had to be a catch.

  “It’s not my birthday, Missy,” Capri said as she reached for the card. “Thanks, Lexi.”

  “Oh, anyway, like I was saying. She wasn’t even invited to the party and she showed up there hanging off his arm . . . Check it out, it was on the E! Channel. She was a fashion ‘trashy’ in the ‘trashy or flashy’ segment to boot.” Missy kept talking, giving me no further acknowledgment.

  Her voice faded as I strode into my office. Once inside I closed the door and leaned against it, whispering to myself: “Lord Jesus, forgive me, but I cannot stand that girl. If she’s going to be one of Capri’s friends, please help me.” My prayers must have been answered because about fifteen minutes later, Capri came down to my office alone.

  “Hey, got a minute?” she said as she poked her head in the doorway.

  “Yeah, sure,” I said, as I looked up from my computer screen.

  “Just wanted to say thank you for the card. That was really thoughtful.”

  “It was nothing. Just wanted you to know I was thinking about you.”

  “Lex, I know you’re tired of seeing Missy. She shows up uninvited. It’s okay every now and then, because, well, sometimes it’s nice to have someone to relate to on the basketball thing. She’s not that bad. It was fun at first because she was so intrigued by my being a lawyer. Anyway, all this NBA wife stuff is pretty new to me. I was just trying not to be so antisocial for Anthony’s sake, you know? But I didn’t know I was acquiring a shadow.” Capri leaned against the side of the doorway and folded her hands.

  “Capri, you don’t have to justify your friendships to me. It’s just that, like you said, she hangs around here as if she doesn’t have anything else to do. We do have a practice to run and some of us have to work for a living.”

  Capri’s right eyebrow instantly went up. “What do you mean some of us? Lexi, I do put in my time and if I want to have a visitor every now and then . . . well, I do pay for half the office space.” She stood up straight.

  I raised my hands. “Whoa, Capri, you don’t have to get defensive. I didn’t mean to offend you, but you just admitted that old girl shows up uninvited . . . often. I mean, we might as well hang out a shingle with her name on it.” I clicked on my calendar to see what I had going on for the afternoon.

  “But as long as I handle my business, it really shouldn’t be that big of a deal,” Capri said as she folded her arms.

  I sighed. “Capri, it’s not that big of an issue. As far as I’m concerned that’s behind us.” I took a deep breath and moved a pile of papers in front of me. I picked up a pen, but realized this was a good time to discuss some real business. “Since you’re here, do we want to have a client meeting, maybe go over some cases right now?”

  “Lexi, I know we need to do that, but I have to finish up a contract by five today.”

  “We’ve been putting off meeting for a while. We need to do some strategic planning and we have to meet with the accountant next week.”

  “Lexi, you pretty much know all my cases. I don’t have as many clients, but they pay retainers. I may have a couple of settlements coming up. But you know how that is, sort of unpredictable.”

  “Yeah, I know, Capri, but you know we need to talk it over in detail. What’s happened to you? You used to be so meticulous. And for the record, I have clients that pay too. Anyway, I just need to have a meeting to feel comfortable. I’m on a fixed budget.”

  “Why are you so stressed? Lexi, part of owning a business is to enjoy it. Why are you all of sudden so p
ressed for time? Our business is fine. Just don’t pressure me, okay? You know if anything gets slow I got your back.”

  “I want to enjoy this as much as you, but this is a new business, Capri. We’re not meeting some of our goals and I’m just a little nervous. I mean, yeah, you walked in the door with a few really good clients, but you know this is a hustle. I appreciate the fact that you would have my back, but I don’t want you to have to carry me.”

  Capri took a deep breath. “Well, you know I got you. And besides, it wouldn’t be the first time. Why are you tripping?”

  My heart fell. I knew there was going to come a day when I would regret asking Capri for money when I was in solo practice. Did she realize she had just insulted me? She had watched me try to build this practice and knew how hard I’ve worked. Besides, I had a baby to think about now. Boy, you think you know your friends, but I guess when your husband all of a sudden becomes an NBA player and starts making millions of dollars, anybody can change.

  “Okay, never mind. Yeah, it can wait. We can wait until we look up and all our books are screwed up. We can wait until we are in dire straights and have to answer to the IRS. Anyway, I’m gonna get some work done this afternoon and in between playing with Missy maybe you can do the same,” I said with my eyes focused on my stack of papers.

  “Okay, okay, Lexi, stop with the dramatics. We can meet tomorrow morning. What’s up with you? Why have you been so cranky these past few days?”

  I looked up and relaxed my posture. My shoulders dropped. “I . . . well, Capri, I’m not sure,” I lied. I was still a bit angry with her and didn’t want to share my news. At this particular moment, she doesn’t deserve to share in my joy. I know, God, I know, I’m being ugly.

  “Well, Anthony has me a bit wound up too with the playoffs and some other issues, but things will work themselves out.”

  “What? Capri, I know you wouldn’t tell the whole crew your business, but you and I, we used to be able to talk. What’s going on?” My eyes focused on hers.

  “Nothing, it’s just really personal. It’s about him and I just don’t think it would be fair.”

  “Fine. Be that way.” Just for that, you may have lost your godmother privileges. “Since you don’t want to talk about it, I better get to work,” I said as I opened a file.

  Capri hesitated. “Well, fine.” She went back to her office and I thought I heard her door slam shut.

  Amelia, our legal intern, was the only other person in the office. After listening in as best she could, she picked her phone up and called her friend. She began speaking rapidly in Spanish. “. . . Las chicas están locas.”

  “I heard that, Amelia,” I yelled before I got up and shut my door.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  Hoop Dreams

  It had been raining off and on for weeks. So, the sight of sunshine glaring through the windows inspired Capri to embark on a cleaning marathon. She also wanted to work off the nervous energy surrounding Anthony’s next game. They were one win away from the playoffs. She’d never seen him be so focused or work so hard. “Something might have come out of this sex drought,” Capri thought as she sprayed and wiped the sliding glass door. She paused briefly to look out at her backyard. Boy, I’m a long way from Brooklyn. Her eyes focused on the infinity pool with the cascading waterfalls and outdoor kitchen. In the distance she could see Anthony’s basketball court. All this because somebody can dribble a ball.

  “I’d trade a chunk of this house if I could have my husband back,” she thought aloud. I miss those long nights. Not only am I deprived, but he’s been cranky on top of it . . . but Missy says most of the players get irritable at a time like this. Capri lifted her shoulders then sighed as she released them.

  That Missy . . . she’s definitely a character. After meeting her husband, Jason, Missy started to live and breathe the NBA. He seemed to worship the ground she walked on and didn’t make a move without her. Now she was a self-proclaimed authority on this whole players’ wives thing. Missy was the only one to really reach out to Capri. Although her conversation rarely went beyond fashion, Star magazine, Vibe, or E! Channel, the two of them somehow connected.

  Capri refocused as she grabbed her bucket of sponges and cleaning products. She headed for the stairs, somewhat regretting the project she had started. Once in the game room she removed some of Anthony’s trophies from the shelf. While dusting, she thought about Lexi. The last thing I want is for this law firm to affect our friendship. She stepped back, wiped her forehead. The enemy will find any open door to cause division and strife. But I’m about to close the door on that sucker.

  Capri moved down the hall to the bedroom and immediately stripped the linen. Hmm, time to shop for a new comforter set. Although she admired the turquoise blue and brown décor, she was already bored with it. Heck, maybe we’ll redecorate the whole room. I could call that Naegel, Jermane’s friend. Capri put her hand on her hip and bit the side of her lip. On second thought, I don’t need any drama like Jermane had with her alleged decorator/stripper. I can’t say I blame her; he was kinda fine. No, that is definitely not a good idea right now. She closed her eyes, pictured his buffed reddish-brown body, sun-kissed dreads, and infectious smile. Whoa. She waved her hand toward her face, fanning herself, regaining her composure.

  She stepped toward Anthony’s closet with hesitation. In contrast to hers it was always in disarray, except for his sneakers, of course. Most of his massive collection of sneakers was neatly stored in a specially made wall display. A few pairs were still scattered on the floor amid sweat-pants and lost socks, so she started there.

  When she lifted the first shoe, she marveled at her husband’s foot size. She picked up another and heard something rattle. She reached in the massive hole and pulled out a plastic bottle. What’s this? Capri turned and read the label. She immediately went to her office and got on the computer. Her fingers typed with lightning speed until the information popped up. After she read it, she leaned back and took a deep breath. Her hands reached for the phone, she was about to dial his cell . . . then she slowly placed it back on the receiver. It may kill me, but I can’t talk to him until after the game tonight.

  “Man, Anthony could have hooked up better seats than this. We’re two rows from the nosebleed section,” Kevin said as he bit into a hot dog. “Look at Capri down there tryin’ to look all cute. That’s where we need to be.”

  “You better be lucky Anthony got us any seats. They’re not that bad,” Rex said as he scanned the Toyota Center. The music blared and an announcer’s booming voice got his attention.

  “Ladies and Gentlemen, we’re proud to bring you the Houston Met-eor-ettes!!!” A team of young women dressed in hot pants and cropped tops, shaking metallic pom-poms, flooded the floor, bouncing around various sections of the gym.

  “Rex, man, focus . . . don’t you see this is one of the highlights!” Kevin said as he started clapping. He stood up, mimicking the dancer’s movements.

  “Man, stop! You always got to act a fool.” Chris yanked on his arm, trying to get him to sit down.

  “Dang, I should have brought Angel,” Octavio said as he tried not to stare down at the dancers and their skimpy outfits.

  Rex, Chris, and Kevin all looked at him sideways. “Yo, that’s your boy,” Kevin said to Chris. “Man, you’re trip-pin’. We love our wives and all, but you got to loosen up a bit,” he said and started clapping again.

  “I feel you though,” said Chris. “Y’all know Lexi has radar. This would be the one time they’d flash me on the big screen. In a few minutes, I’d hear my cell phone. ‘Baby, I saw you looking at those women’ . . . then she’d throw a scripture on top of it.”

  “Yeah, you can look, but you better not let them see you do it. It’s not like you become blind after you get married,” Rex added.

  “You know they have a ministry for that at Lakewood . . . for men struggling with temptation,” Octavio chimed in.

  “Man, we ain’t in church . . . you are re
ally killing the vibe,” Kevin warned as he shook his finger toward Rex. “Besides, don’t think our women don’t look too. Rex, I know you know. That’s why you all tight with Jermane now.”

  Octavio looked at Kevin, then shook his head. “Man, you know you wrong.”

  “What? I’m just keeping it real.” He formed a megaphone with his hands and yelled, still focused on the Meteorettes. “These girls are talented.” He clapped his hands along with the musical beat.

  “Sit down, sit down!” a group of rowdy men behind him shouted. They threw a few pieces of popcorn at him.

  Kevin looked around with an attitude and finally took his seat. “Look, I like to have a good time wherever I go. Shoot, we’re about to make it to the playoffs.”

  “Not if your boy doesn’t bring it. He’s been a little shaky these last couple of games,” Chris warned as his eyes focused on the floor.

  “He’s gonna be a’ight. He better . . . these ain’t the best seats, but I still ain’t trying to give ’em up,” Kevin added.

  The lights dimmed and the announcer’s deep voice incited the fans to a noisy roar. The four men began to high-five one another and prepared to watch their boy play the game of the season.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  Girls’ Night

  Capri was actually at the game and the rest of us had gathered at my place. It had been a close one and we were in the fourth period.

  “I can’t take it anymore,” Angel wailed as she sat at the edge of my couch.

  “I don’t get it. What’s the big deal? It’s just a game,” Jermane interjected as she buffed her nails. “Jewel, you’re right, this diamond buffer is great.”