Mama Dearest

by E. Lynn Harris

“Yancey, are you okay?” Cale asked.

  With tears streaking down my face, I mumbled, “I will be fine, but you need to leave.”

  CHAPTER

  18

  Ava crossed her legs and tightened the belt of the white terrycloth robe. She pulled her cell phone out of her beach bag and realized she had fifteen minutes before her massage at the Boca Day Spa. She picked up a Florida Homes magazine off the table and was thumbing through it when she heard a loud female voice. Ava looked up from the magazine and saw a somewhat attractive black female walk into the spa talking on a jeweled cell phone. She had on big black sunglasses, and Ava remembered seeing her with an older white man at the beach bar a couple of days before.

  She was talking so loud that Ava couldn’t help but overhear some of her conversation.

  “Girl, Dennis is driving me crazy with his old ass. Can’t keep his hands off me and so I made an appointment to get a wax just to get some rest … I know, girl, but this was not a part of the deal or my plan. I don’t think he’s sick at all.”

  The lady, who looked to be in her early thirties, sat down next to Ava and continued her conversation as if alone.

  “Well, at least the place is nice. Strictly five-star. The food is off the chain, and it’s money people at every turn. You should come down here when you start looking for another husband.”

  Ava made eye contact with the lady and then looked away. As she did, her own cell phone rang and she saw Yancey’s name cross her screen.

  Ava knew it was only a matter of time before Cale dropped the news on Yancey. In fact, she had been expecting this call. “What’s going on, Yancey?” she asked sharply. “I’m just getting ready for a massage.”

  “Did you go to my director and tell him some stuff about me?” Yancey yelled.

  “Now, why would I do that?”

  “Come on, Ava. I know you told him about Nicole, Basil and Madison. It couldn’t be anybody but you. Now they want me to revisit these people.” Yancey sounded like she wanted to reach through the phone and strangle her. “Why can’t you just mind your own business?”

  “That’s what I’m trying to do, sweetheart. I told you, I’m getting ready to get a massage.”

  “I know you, Ava, and nobody did this but you, and if it causes me to lose my show, then you’re going to have to deal with me. Do you understand?”

  “Yancey, stop tripping,” Ava said in a motherly voice. “So what if I did? I was only trying to help you. I knew before they started filming the show, you needed something to make it pop. I’m glad to see that the director took my advice.”

  “Well, you better find you a rich husband at that damn spa because you’re going to have to pay me back every penny for this trip, since you can’t stay out of my business!”

  “Now, Yancey dear, I thought this was a trip for you to show your wonderful mother how much you love her.”

  “You just wait and see.”

  “I love you too, Yancey,” Ava said. As she clicked off her phone, a self-satisfied grin appeared.

  “Are you still reading that magazine?”

  “Excuse me?” Ava said, looking at the woman who had been talking so loudly on her cell phone.

  “Are you finished with that magazine? I think my new home is featured in it. Can I see it?”

  “I’m not finished with it,” Ava said coldly.

  “Okay, well let me know when you’re finished. I’m dying to see the house.” The woman glanced around. “Are you down here with your husband?”

  “Don’t you see I’m reading?” Ava said.

  “Sorry, I was just making conversation.” The woman leaned in and confided, “It’s always good to see another sister at places like this. Me and my new husband, Dennis, come here all the time. Maybe you’ve heard of my husband. Dennis Meyers of Meyers Homes. He built all these retirement homes and condos in Tampa and right outside Miami. I’m Sonja Meyers of Palm Beach. And you are?”

  Ava didn’t answer but simply gave Sonja the side eye that said okay bitch that’s enough.

  That didn’t stop the woman for a second. “How long are you going to be down here? Maybe you could have dinner with Dennis and me?”

  A plump white lady in a white coat appeared and called out, “Ava Middlebrooks.”

  “I’m Ava Middlebrooks.”

  “Ava. What a beautiful name,” Sonja said. “You look like an Ava.”

  “Are you ready for your massage, Mrs. Middlebrooks?”

  Ava got up from the chair and was escorted to her massage. Just as the attendant opened the door leading to the dim hallway, Ava heard Sonja’s booming voice call out, “Nice meeting you, Ava. See you around.”

  Once inside Ava whispered to the attendant, “Some people have no class at all. I thought this place was exclusive.”

  WHEN AVA RETURNED TO her room, she was thinking how much she had missed pleasures like a ninety-minute rub down. She was looking forward to a nice room service meal with an expensive bottle of wine and then maybe a walk along the beach before sunset.

  She walked over to pick up the room service menu, but before she reached for it, she stopped at the computer that the resort provided and punched in the name Dennis Meyers. A few seconds later, up popped a picture of an older white man and a complete bio. Ava started to read the information on this wealthy real estate mogul, who had made his name with properties all over Florida. Ava learned that he had boosted his net worth by cashing in on the tough market buying foreclosed homes in exclusive areas like Star and Fisher Islands.

  “So that cheap ghetto bitch wasn’t lying,” Ava said to herself.

  At that moment Ava’s plans suddenly changed. She wasn’t going to order room service. No, she was going to take a shower, put on her best dress, shoes and jewelry and figure out at which restaurant her new best friends the Meyers were having dinner.

  CHAPTER

  19

  This was such a great idea, Ms. Nicole,” Madison said as she dipped the golden brown French fry into the pile of ketchup on her plate.

  “You’ve been working so hard and I always loved having lunch at Bloomingdale’s when I first moved to New York. It’s like something out of a movie,” Nicole said.

  “Who knew that there was a restaurant in this fabulous store,” Madison said, gazing all around.

  “Yeah, my girls love it here too. They make a mean hot fudge sundae.”

  “I love hot fudge but I have to watch my weight.”

  Nicole didn’t approve. “Now Madison, I hope you’re being smart about that. You’re a growing girl and you should eat what you like in moderation. I know this business can be very cruel to young girls about weight issues.”

  “I know you’re right Ms. Nicole, but my daddy is on me about that all the time.”

  “Your father seems like a really smart and nice man,” Nicole said with a warm smile.

  Madison returned the smile and said, “Yes, my daddy is all that and a bag of chips.”

  “You sound like my daughter now,” Nicole said with a laugh.

  Madison wanted to say that she wished she were Nicole’s daughter but only if she could keep her real daddy. She was certain that Ms. Nicole was married to a nice man, too, but nobody was like her daddy and she wasn’t willing to give him up even for a mother as nice as Nicole.

  “I want to meet your children someday. Maybe we can come back here,” Madison suggested.

  “That would be nice. I’ll make sure that happens.” A cloud settled over her features as a new thought came to her. “Madison, there is something I needed to tell you.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “I’m going to be out of the country for about a month starting next week. My husband has an extended business trip in London, so the kids and I are going to meet him there. We’ll have to miss a few lessons but you’ll be fine.”

  Madison tried to hide her disappointment. She looked forward so much to her lessons. “London, that sounds exciting, especially for your children.”

&
nbsp; “Yeah, we’re taking them out of school and will home-school them for a month. The trip to London will be educational, we think.”

  “I’m sure it will be.” Once the news had settled in, Madison realized she should bring up a plan she’d been thinking of on her own. “Ms. Nicole, I have something to ask you.”

  “Sure, Madison.”

  “I’m starting this foundation named after my aunt Jenny. She raised me since I was a baby but died of breast cancer. I’m starting an after-school program for kids in the area that’s arts related and I wondered if you’d consider coming by maybe once a month and teaching voice lessons.”

  “Oh, Madison, that’s wonderful and sure I’d come by maybe even once a week if you’d have me.”

  “Thank you … thank you. Come as often as you like.”

  Nicole appraised her in this new light. “I know your aunt Jenny and father must be so proud of you for giving back. Most young people in show business aren’t as generous as you. I can tell that you were raised right.”

  “That means a lot coming from you, Ms. Nicole.”

  Nicole picked a slice of buttery avocado from her Cobb salad and took a bite. She washed it down with the sweet tea the waiter had prepared just for her. Since moving back to New York from Atlanta, Nicole knew she had to make a special request to get the drink she missed so much from her days of living down south.

  The thick-waisted waiter with dirty brown hair approached the table and asked if he could talk the ladies into dessert.

  “What do you think, Madison? We’ve got plenty of time.”

  “Could I have some strawberries and blueberries mixed together?”

  “Sure, would you like some whipped cream with that?”

  “I better not,” Madison said. Nicole raised her eyebrows but didn’t say anything. Madison saw the question mark, though, and quickly told the waiter she changed her mind and to pile the whipped cream on high.

  When the waiter left, Nicole had a question for Madison.

  “Madison, why were you so interested in Yancey Braxton?”

  Feeling unexpectedly defensive, Madison said, “Oh, no reason.”

  “Really?”

  Madison didn’t answer because she liked Ms. Nicole and didn’t want to lie to her.

  “Did I say something wrong, Madison? You know you can talk to me.”

  “It’s really nothing, Ms. Nicole. I’m really interested in anybody who reached a certain degree of success in this business. Especially African-American women.”

  “Okay, I can understand that.”

  Silence hung like a curtain for a few moments. Both Nicole and Madison avoided each other’s gaze and moved their eyes all around the bustling café. When Madison’s eyes finally met Nicole’s, slow, small tears began to fall.

  “What’s wrong, Madison? And please don’t say nothing again.”

  “I need to wash my face,” Madison said as her voice dropped to a whisper. She rushed from the table, leaving Nicole dumbfounded.

  CHAPTER

  20

  I was listening to an arrangement of one of the tracks from Dalton’s CD. This boy could write his ass off and I was thinking how recording a new CD would be great for the reality show. I hoped Dalton hadn’t shared this wonderful music with anyone else because this was mine.

  Just when I was about to replay the track, my cell phone rang and I recognized Derrick’s number. All of a sudden my heart began to race, but I quickly answered the phone.

  “Hello.”

  “Yancey.”

  “Yes, Derrick?”

  “How are you doing?”

  “Fine.”

  “Okay. I promised to get back to you and I think I have some good news.”

  “What?”

  “Madison has agreed with me, and I think we should do this as quickly as possible before she changes her mind.”

  I could imagine how the girl felt. “That doesn’t sound too promising. Does she want to meet me, or is this something you’re forcing on her, Derrick?”

  “No, I would never do that. But you know how teenagers are; they change their minds like the summer weather.”

  “I don’t really know how teenagers think, Derrick, but if you think we should do this soon, then I’m ready,” I said reluctantly. Were either of us ever going to be ready?

  “I think we should. I’ve arranged for you to meet in a private suite in our hotel. I think it’s best that I’m there as well but nobody else,” Derrick said.

  “That’s fine,” I said.

  “I’m going to order lunch for the two of you. What would you like?”

  I tried to remain calm and collected. “Oh, it doesn’t matter. Something like a Cobb salad or chicken Caesar. I’ll most likely be too nervous to eat.”

  “Yancey Braxton nervous? I don’t believe that. Besides, everything will be fine.”

  “What time?”

  “Let’s say twelve-thirty.”

  “Okay,” I said. My mind was already racing ahead to my closet, spying what dress or outfit I would wear.

  “Okay, Yancey, see you tomorrow. I’m actually excited about this.”

  “Me too.”

  I OPENED THE SACK with my salad in it and discovered that once again, Lyrical had gotten the wrong salad dressing.

  “Lyrical!” I yelled out.

  No answer.

  “Lyrical!” I screamed at the top of my lungs. Where in the hell was she?

  I got up from the dining room table and went to my office, where I discovered Lyrical at the computer with headphones on. When she saw me, she rolled her eyes and slowly took the headphones off.

  “Did you hear me calling you?”

  “What’s up, Yancey?”

  “I said, didn’t you hear me calling you?” I was still trying to get over the idea of meeting Madison face to face.

  “I guess not, ’cause I didn’t answer, now did I,” Lyrical said as she began to put the headphones back on her ears.

  I held out the yellow salad dressing. “What is this?”

  “Salad dressing.”

  “What did I ask for?”

  “You asked for a salad.”

  “But what kind of salad dressing did I ask for?”

  “I don’t know, but I got you honey mustard.”

  “I asked for ranch. Why can’t you just do what I ask?” I asked wearily. “It was a very simple request.”

  Lyrical said, “Where is Ava, by the way? I haven’t seen her in a couple of days. I want to talk to her about something. I want to make sure she doesn’t forget what she promised me.”

  “She’s not here.”

  “I can see that,” she said, looking around the house in an exaggerated manner. “Where is she?”

  “Out of town.”

  “What is she doing out of town? She’s not supposed to do that. Did she get permission to leave town?”

  “Permission from whom?”

  “From Mr. Lomax, her probation officer. She can get in big trouble for leaving the city without his approval. She is still on paper, and they could send her grand ass back to jail if they found out about it.”

  A magnificent thought popped into my head. I almost could have hugged Lyrical. “Are you serious? They can do that?”

  “Damn straight. Now, I’m going to go back down to this damn deli and get your salad dressing, princess, but the next time, get your order straight,” she said with a downward glance at her own body. “I got better things to do than to be carrying my ass back and forth to that deli. Look at me. I don’t need the exercise.”

  When I heard the door close, I smiled to myself and said, “Well, well, Ms. Ava, look what information just fell into my hands. Let’s see what lessons I can teach you about interfering with my life. Can’t say I didn’t learn from the best.”

  “THIS HOT CHOCOLATE IS to die for,” Dalton said as he took a long sip.

  “It’s like someone melted a Hershey bar into milk.”

  “Would you like another one?�
�� I asked. I’d invited him to have tea with me at the chic Lowell Hotel on the East Side. Dalton told me he wasn’t a tea drinker so I suggested the hot chocolate. I wanted to make sure he gave me his songs and didn’t go dig up one of those old divas like Angela Winbush or Regina Belle. Dalton could be my way back to the top.

  “I don’t think so but thanks. This place is nice,” Dalton said as he looked around the exquisitely decorated café. We were seated at a sofa in the corner with a glass-topped table. On the table was a crystal vase filled with elegant white flowers, surrounded by lavender candles. I loved this café, and even though it wasn’t in the budget I thought it would be the perfect place to close the deal with Dalton. I had even dressed like I was going on an interview or audition.

  My hair was in a tight chignon and I wore a white sateen high-collared blouse, a black pencil skirt with pleats in the back and a simple pair of low-heeled black Chanel pumps. On days like this I was happy I’d invested in expensive shoes and bags when I had money.

  “Yeah, this has always been one of my favorite places,” I said as I finished the last sip of my tea.

  “I can see why. Maybe I will bring Anderson here sometime. He would like this place.”

  I kept my face carefully neutral at the mention of Anderson. “How long have you guys been a couple? I always thought you were dating someone in the cast.”

  “No chorus boys for me, hon. I’ve been dating Anderson about two years.”

  “What does he do?”

  His friendly smile instantly shut down. “I can’t speak on it.”

  “What?”

  “I’m not allowed to speak about Anderson’s private life even with someone I really adore and trust.”

  “Is he in the closet or one of those down-low brothers?” I wondered what he meant by not being allowed to talk about his boy-friend’s life. What kind of shit was that?

  “Yancey, I can’t speak on it,” Dalton said in a voice that almost sounded like he was singing.

  Sensing an opening, I plunged ahead. “Where did you meet him?”

  “You gonna make me get up from this table, Yancey.”

  “I was once in love with one of those down-low brothers,” I explained, “and I could never understand why he couldn’t just say it.”