“Fuck being calm! You’re sitting here telling me that you’re about to pull my entire insides out, that I will never give birth to a child, and you expect me to remain calm.”
“Please, Lisa—”
“Don’t ‘please’ me. Go to hell! I am going to get a second opinion and prove that your ass is lying!”
“Lisa, I understand your pain, but time is not on your side. I would really like to schedule you to see Dr. Watson, then we can look at your options.”
Lisa sprang from her seat. “You’re obviously not hearing shit I am telling you. I’m not having any surgery. I am going to find another gynecologist that is going to prove you wrong. And when I do, I am suing your ass!” Lisa turned on her heels and bolted out the office.
She denied the truth for almost two weeks before she broke down and told Michael. Then she cried for another week before she finally scheduled the exploratory surgery. Within days, Dr. Gaye’s findings were confirmed. She had stage II ovarian cancer, and was immediately scheduled for a total hysterectomy. Shortly after, she started her first round of chemotherapy, which left her tired and depressed. It wasn’t long before her long thick hair started to fall out. The loss hit her harder than she imagined it would. Michael shaved his head in support.
Lisa tilted her head toward the sky and took a deep cleansing breath. For a young woman who had made plans for the future, finding out she had cancer was like hitting a wall while sprinting. Now, after a two-year remission, a second-look laparotomy detected that the cancer had recurred. As soon as Lisa had realized that cancer was knocking on her door again, she was prescribed an antidepressant and began seeing a psychologist to help her cope with the future. Shortly after, she found herself back in the church, devoted to developing a closer relationship with God. Now she felt at peace and was prepared to fight until the end. In the meantime she planned to live her life to the fullest and hope only for the best.
The cancer was too aggressive for chemotherapy. Therefore, next week she was scheduled to have surgery to remove a two-centimeter pelvic mass. But before the cycle began again, she needed to find a way to prepare her friends, and especially Renee.
Chapter 37
RENEE
Around two o’clock we lined up out near the dock and waited to board the glass-bottom boat. I had my camera hanging around my neck just in case there was something—or possibly, someone—I wanted to take a picture of. It was a scorching afternoon. I was almost tempted to say to hell with the boat ride and go back to my room, but my sister was already pissed at me for yesterday, so I decided to keep my mouth closed.
“How far out are they taking us?” Nadine asked.
Lisa shrugged. “I don’t know. The trip is supposed to be forty-five minutes long. So I guess as far as that boat can travel in twenty-two minutes.”
I glanced out at the small boat. It was supposed to fit fifteen people comfortably. I think somebody needed to work on their math.
A tall white man came over and instructed each of us to take a life vest from a large drum at the beginning of the dock. I released a sigh of relief. I’m not the best swimmer in the world. In fact I wouldn’t even call myself a swimmer since I spent more than half my life afraid of water, so the thought of the boat capsizing had crossed my mind. Just recently I had enrolled in swimming lessons at parks and recreation, but who becomes an expert after six weeks?
I slipped the orange vest on, then returned to my spot in line. While snapping it firmly across my chest, I spotted our guide coming our way. I don’t know how I knew he was our guide, I just knew.
Dayu-um!
He was the color of chestnuts roasted over an open fire. He had long dreadlocks and a thin mustache and the biggest brandy-wine-colored eyes I had ever seen. He nodded in my direction, then moved to the end of the dock and stepped into the boat.
“Oh, my goodness!” I heard Lisa say. “Renee, there’s your Mandingo.”
She chuckled and the other two fell out laughing. I turned and rolled my eyes, then returned my gaze to him.
Nadine lightly pinched my arm. “He is definitely a cutie.”
I had to agree. “True that.”
When we boarded, he held out a hand and assisted each of us down into the boat. I didn’t want to let his hand go. The contact sent tingles straight down to my toes.
I took a seat on the bench across from him. He took a seat while the driver started the boat. My eyes traveled down to stare at his crotch and my eyes grew big. He had on a pair of spandex shorts and either boxers or no underwear at all because his dick was on the side of his leg.
I hit Nadine and with my eyes I signaled for her to glance between his legs. When her mouth dropped I laughed. Lisa slapped my knees and I turned and rolled my eyes at her, then looked at Nadine again and we giggled softly like two teenagers.
I whispered close to her ear. “Now if that ain’t a big bamboo, then I don’t know what one is.” He finally closed his legs and I allowed myself to listen to his presentation.
With a heavy accent, Solomon explained the fish life in the area and talked about stingrays. Glancing down at the glass bottom we were able to see jellyfish, which he explained were dangerous. They looked so transparent I didn’t know how someone could possibly see them. I have to say it was quite fascinating watching schools of fish swimming right below the surface. It wasn’t until he mentioned that the water was over ninety feet deep that I suddenly realized I was in a small boat and started to panic.
Beads of sweat sprinkled my forehead as my body temperature began to climb. “How much longer before we return to shore?” I asked anxiously.
Solomon looked over at me and winked. “We have a few minutes left.”
“How about we return now?” My breath came in short, shallow gasps. “I think I am about to be sick.” I stood and staggered to the other side.
“Renee, sit your ass down,” Lisa hissed under her breath.
I dropped down onto the bench and started breathing even harder. “I need to get off this boat, right now!” My eyes started darting around the tiny boat. I could hear people making comments and Kayla saying how embarrassing I was. I didn’t give a shit. I just couldn’t believe I was stupid enough to come out this far.
“Try putting your head between your legs,” I heard Solomon suggest.
I tried that, but in the vest, it only served to limit my air supply.
“I can’t breathe!” I shrieked. I was sweating and felt real sick to my stomach.
“That’s because you’re hyperventilating.” Lisa lifted my head. “Renee, take slow, deep breaths.”
I tried doing what she said, but instead started breathing even faster. My breathing was choppy gasps and I was only seconds away from passing out. I heard Solomon tell the driver to head back to the dock, then he moved in front of me and gently pressed his hands on my shoulders.
“Renee, listen to me,” he said in a slow, deliberate, tone. I opened my eyes to look at his concerned face. “Are you listening?”
I slowly nodded my head.
“Follow me. Breathe in through your nose then out with your mouth ... good. In through your nose, then out through your mouth.”
I followed his lead and willed myself to calm down while praying I didn’t throw up. I was amazed to find that within minutes my breathing had slowed and by the time we reached the dock, I was almost completely calmed down.
“Everything is going to be okay,” Solomon fixed me with a stare, making sure I was hearing what he was saying.
I was embarrassed at the loss of control. Here I was on a boat with my Mandingo and I made myself look like a damn fool.
While the boat was pulled into place and tied down, I smiled over at him.
“You look like you’re feeling better,” he said with a smile of his own.
I nodded. “Thank you.”
He then rose and moved to help everyone off the boat.
Nadine leaned back and whispered, “I can’t believe you did that to get that ma
n’s attention.”
I rolled my eyes and pushed her big titties out my face. “I wasn’t playing.”
“Yeah, right,” Kayla said as she rose and moved to get off.
“Fuck y’all! I don’t give a shit if you believe me or not.”
Lisa squeezed my hand, then rose. “You know I know.”
Yeah, I guess my sister would know that what I had just experienced was real. She had been with me when I was twenty and decided to go canoeing. Our canoe had tipped over and I found myself kicking and screaming in the water. I had almost drowned my sister when she tried to help me. Even though I was wearing a life vest, I had been scared and refused to believe that a small orange vest had the ability to save my life. After she had forced me to open my eyes, I realized how stupid I must have looked kicking and screaming while floating on top of the water.
“Thanks, Lisa.”
She rose and I then waited until everyone else had gotten off before I summoned the courage to get off myself.
I reached for Solomon’s hand and allowed him to help me back onto dry land.
“How are you doing?” he asked.
I gave him a nonchalant shrug. “I’m fine, really.”
“Yes, you are.” My Mandingo was flirting with me.
He stared. I stared. He had to be at least six-two. Tall, lean, and sexy. When he smiled dimples dominated his cheeks.
“I could help you with your fear of water.” He was still holding onto my hand.
“Oh, really?”
“Yes, I could.” When he smiled his eyes twinkled in the most arousing way.
I pursed my lips and waited for him to continue. I glanced to the right and spotted the trio waiting and watching. I gave them a dismissive wave and focused on Solomon.
“I would like to see you ... away from here. We are forbidden to date the guests of the hotel but you can come to Montego Bay to see me.”
I frowned. There was no way I was running around the city with a total stranger. I shook my head. “I don’t feel comfortable.”
He understood my apprehension and nodded. “I understand. How about I meet you right outside the gate after the sunset? Say, nine o’clock?”
Now that was an idea I was down with. “Sounds like a plan.”
Chapter 38
KAYLA
Kayla dressed carefully for her date with Clayton. She didn’t want to appear too casual or too formal. After Renee raided Kayla’s suitcase and frowned at everything Kayla had, Kayla allowed Renee to drag her across the street to the small marketplace, where they found several outfits created by local designers. As she faced herself in the large vanity mirror, Kayla wasn’t sure if she liked what she saw.
Renee had insisted on a mauve linen Capri outfit. The shirt had capped sleeves and a floral-print top with four buttons running down the front. The pants had an elastic waistband and the same floral pattern around the bottom of the pants.
She lifted her arm and looked at the fat on her forearms and frowned. Her triceps were nothing but flab. She unbuttoned the top button, trying to draw away attention from her double chin and spotlight her large breasts instead. Renee told her the outfit would draw attention away from her thick waistline and camouflage the rolls across her back, but looking from the side, she disagreed.
Kayla dropped her head as tears sprang to the surface. There was no way she could go out with Clayton, not looking like this.
She heard the key slide into the door. Quickly, she wiped her eyes as Nadine and Lisa stepped into the room.
Nadine looked at her and smiled. “Knock, knock. Renee let me borrow her card so I could come check you out.”
Kayla gave her a worried look. “Where is she?”
She sucked her teeth. “At the bar, getting drunk, as usual.”
“You look great,” Lisa cooed.
“This outfit makes me look bigger than I already am.” She fell back on the bed, a defeated look on her face.
Lisa wagged her finger at her. “Girl, don’t even start with that mess. You look great.”
Nadine agreed. “Here, let me help you with your makeup.” She reached for the makeup bag on the end of the dresser, and frowned when she looked inside. “Is this all you have? I’ll be right back.” She turned and went back across the hall.
As soon as the door shut, Lisa reached for Kayla’s hand. “Girl, you have got to stop putting yourself down. If Clayton didn’t want to go out with you, he wouldn’t have asked.”
She gave a look that said she wasn’t completely convinced.
“What did I tell you? Beauty starts from within. If you don’t think you’re beautiful how do you expect anyone else to think so?”
“That’s what Leroy says.”
Fuck Leroy, she thought but she didn’t say it out loud. “He’s right. If you don’t like the way you look, then do something about it. Go to the gym, cut back on your carbs, or quit complaining and accept yourself for who you are.”
She gave a frustrated sigh. “I guess you’re right.”
“Girl, it ain’t no guessing about it. I am right.” Her statement made Kayla laugh. “Girlfriend, life is too short to be taken for granted. Love yourself for who you are. You are a cutie and you need to start thinking and feeling that way.”
“I know. I know.”
Lisa lowered beside her on the bed. “Remember that time we were at McDonald’s and that ugly baldheaded chick walked into the restaurant, strutting like she was the shit?”
Kayla chuckled at the memories. The woman, who had to be in her late forties, had a short nappy fro and wore spandex. She stepped through the door like she was Beyoncé somebody. “She was a tired mess.”
“Yeah, she was, but she thought she was the shit. You could tell by the way she walked and by the way she held her head high. Even though we thought she needed to go get a weave, the brotha that stepped to her had seen something he liked. That’s how you got to be.”
Kayla took a moment to think about what Lisa had said. She had low self-esteem and knew it carried over into all aspects of who she was. She was going to have to do something about that. It was not going to be easy to retrain years of thinking, but she was willing to try.
“Thanks, Lisa. I feel so much better.” She wrapped her arms around her friend and gave her a hug, hoping that maybe some of Lisa’s confidence would travel over her way.
“Girl, I want you to have the time of your life,” Lisa began as they pulled apart. “Every woman in the room is going to be jealous of you tonight.”
“You think so?”
“Girl, I know so. You’re going to be out with Clayton O’Neal!”
Kayla’s eyes widened. She couldn’t believe it, but she was right. Women were going to be jealous of her. Suddenly she wanted to look her very best. “Now you’ve got me nervous and excited at once.”
Lisa flashed a bright smile. “Good. And don’t mention Leroy’s name. Ain’t nothing worse than someone talking about their ex on a date,” she coached.
Kayla leaned over and hugged her again. “What would I do without you?”
“You just keep on living and carrying me in your heart. I love you girl, and don’t you ever forget that.”
Kayla pulled away and gave her a puzzled look. Something about her statement bothered her. She was about to ask her what she meant, when there was a knock at the door. Lisa rose and went to let Nadine in.
She waved a small bag in the air. “I’ve got some colors here that will look fabulous on you.”
For the first time, Kayla took in Nadine’s appearance. “Your outfit is slamming.” She was wearing a simple black dress, but with large breasts and generous hips the dress was anything but simple.
Nadine gave her a dismissive wave. “I don’t know why I went to all the trouble for RD’s ugly ass.”
Lisa laughed. “He doesn’t look that bad. He’s cute in a Kermit-the-Frog kind of way.”
They all broke out in laughter.
When Kayla sobered, she said, “I’m go
ing to make it up to you, I promise.”
Nadine smirked. “Girl, don’t worry about it. I plan on spending all that ugly boy’s money tonight. He ain’t gonna ask me out again.”
Lisa took the makeup bag from Nadine’s hands. “Here, I’ll do her makeup while you finish getting ready.”
By the time Lisa had finished, the phone rang. Kayla’s heart jumped. She rose and moved over to the phone.
“Hello?”
“Please tell me you haven’t changed your mind,” replied a deep, sensual voice.
Kayla closed her eyes and smiled. “No, I haven’t.”
“Good, a brotha’s heart can only take so much.”
She giggled. Clayton sure knew how to make her feel relaxed. “I’ll be down shortly.”
“RD and I’ll be in the lobby waiting.”
She hung up the phone, then swung around merrily and said in a breathless whisper, “They’re in the lobby.”
Nadine dropped a hand to her hip and frowned. “Well, green boy is gonna have to wait a few minutes because these shoes are killing my feet.”
Lisa shrugged. “Beauty hurts.”
“Not this damn bad.” She rolled her eyes. “Why don’t you go on down and keep them company until I get there.”
Kayla nodded. “All right.” She faced herself in the mirror and was satisfied with what Lisa had done. She reached for her purse and headed out the door. With her heart pounding rapidly against her chest, she moved down the path and into the main building, where she found him sitting in one of the chairs that surrounded the indoor fountain.
She steeled herself and moved forward. Clayton noticed her and a lazy smile slid across his mouth. His eyes pursued her and instantly she knew that she had made the right choice.
Clayton rose to his full six feet five inches. “Wow!” he said, following with a wolf whistle. “You look fabulous.”
She blushed, pleased by his compliment. “So do you.”
That was an understatement. He looked handsome in a pair of gray pleated slacks and a black short-sleeved shirt that was open halfway down his chest. Expensive black leather sandals were on his feet. She was suddenly aroused by his appearance.
In The Company of My Sistahs Page 19
