CHAPTER 12
As I watched the leaves on the trees outside rustle calmly against the suns backdrop, my cell phone rang. It was Iesha and the sound of her voice quickly snapped me back into reality.
“What’s up girl? I just called to see what you were doin’ today. Congressman Franklin Jordan is havin’ a barbecue at his house in Sky Vista and I was wonderin’ if you might like to come as my guest.”
“Oh for real, how do you know him?” I asked.
“Girl I know everybody! He was the client I was meetin’ the night I ran into you and Chance at the restaurant. Anyway, he asked me to come by and he said I could bring a friend if I wanted. It’s just gonna be alotta politicians and shit. I just didn’t wanna be there by myself without anybody to talk to. He will be pretty busy hob-nobbin’ and schmoozin’ for votes and contributions. So, I thought maybe you might like to go and keep me company” Iesha said.
“Alright Iesha I’ll go but don’t be tryin’ to get me caught up in one of yo’ damn hoo-chee-ramas; havin’ that man thinkin’ I’m for sale or no shit like that. I ain’t even on it! You hear me?” I said, making sure that Iesha understood me clearly. Iesha was also known for being a master of last minute surprises.
“Girl quit trippin’. It’s just a barbecue and I would never even put you out there like that. What I do is what I do and I would never put you in the middle of it. It’s just a fundraiser for his new campaign. I just don’t wanna be there without anybody I know and who speaks my language. Look, it’ll be fun and the food is gonna be the bomb! He is havin prime rib, lobster, shrimp and chicken.” Iesha was also greedy as hell!
“Alright, alright! I did have a class to go to this afternoon but I guess I can skip it, and Chance had a therapy appointment to go to. That should keep him busy until I get back,” I said.
“Therapy? What’s wrong, he got a bad back or something? He seemed fine to me?” Iesha asked.
“No. Chance is slightly manic-depressive. He’s on medication and goes to therapy twice a week to manage it. He’s doin’ fine though,” I explained.
“Oh hell naw! You mean that nigga’s crazy?” Iesha said.
“No Iesha. He is not crazy! Fool, he has a medical condition and he is on medication to treat it! Maybe if yo’ crazy ass went to see somebody about yo’ issues you could learn to stay in one place and quit bouncin’ all over the country from pillar to post!” I snapped at Iesha.
“Well excuse me for bein’ concerned about yo’ funny actin’ ass! When they find you floatin’ in Lake Michigan all chopped up in little pieces don’t say I didn’t warn you,” Iesha responded.
“Look, wit’ all the foul shit you be doin’, they’ll find yo’ ass floatin’ long before they will me,” I said.
“Anyway girl. Where do you want me to meet you?” I asked Iesha.
“The address is 3514 Sky Vista Dr. Pull into the circle driveway and I’ll be inside. Just come on in. I’ll see you in about an hour” she said.
“Alright then bye.” I said slamming my cell phone shut.
About an hour later I arrived, pulling into the driveway in front of the house like she said. A valet approached. I felt just a little out of place handing him the keys to park my Toyota Camry, with all the Hummer’s, Benz’s and Jag’s parked everywhere. I walked up to the big wooden door and before I could ring the bell the maid opened the door. Iesha was standing off to the side just behind her.
“Damn girl. Finally! I thought you changed yo’ mind about comin’… Let’s go outside. I want you to meet the Congressman.” Iesha said as she ran up and grabbed me by the hand.
I followed Iesha through the wave of snobby looks and turned up noses. The house was huge and beautifully decorated. It seemed like we walked a damn country mile to get to the outside pool area where the Congressman was. This house was amazing, like something you would see in Architectural Digest or some shit. I felt out of place, so I know Iesha’s ghetto ass must’a felt like little orphan Annie.
As we stepped out on to the terrace, the Congressman immediately spotted Iesha and motioned her over to where he stood. He was very handsome, tall, and well built. He was in in his early forties, with smooth caramel colored skin and wavy salt and pepper hair. He also had quite a reputation with the ladies; a most eligible bachelor and very, very wealthy. I thought to myself, “what the fuck is he doin’ with Iesha?” I guess he must have been slummin’.
“Hello, my dear. Are you having a good time?” the congressman asked as he greeted Iesha with a warm kiss on the cheek.
“Yes Franklin, I’m havin’ a wonderful time. Thank you for asking. There’s someone I’d like for you to meet. This is my old college roommate Rayqelle Davis. Rayqelle is a grad student at Illinois State studying psychology,” Iesha explained to the congressman in this fake proper, wanna be bouzhee ass tone that made me wanna throw the fuck up.
“Well, young ladies with brains and beauty seem to travel in pairs. Iesha is quite the young woman, in every sense of the word. Any friend of hers is a friend of mine. Please eat, drink, and enjoy yourselves. If you need anything just yell for me. I have to go mingle but we’ll talk some more later. Oh by the way, Iesha... Did you get settled into your room alright?” The congressman asked.
“Yes Franklin I did. Thank you again for everything. I really mean it” Iesha responded to the congressman.
“Good, I’ll see you in a bit. Rayqelle, again it has been nice meeting you and please make yourself at home,” said the congressman as he again kissed Iesha on the cheek and made his way over to a small crowd of old moneybags. They were shaking hands and faking smiles.
I turned to Iesha with a look of utter amazement and curiosity. Iesha knew exactly what my next question was.
“Did you get settled into your room? Yo’ room? You have a room here? In this mansion? What in the world did you do to that man wit’cho ghetto ass? You got his old ass sprung! What kinda’ game you runnin’? You know what, I don’t even wanna know,” I told Iesha.
“Wait a minute... Franklin is just a good friend, a very good friend. I met him last year in Miami and we have an understanding,” Iesha said.
“And what might that be?” I asked.
“Franklin wants to be near me, I understand that. So, I let him. It’s that simple, and i’m only staying here until I find a place here in Chicago,” Iesha said as she fixed her make up in a tiny compact mirror.
“It’s just that simple huh? Whatever… Girl, you are too much. How did you manage to…? Never mind. I don’t even wanna know. Just be careful. You ‘bouta have that nigga lookin for yo’ ass wit’ a flashlight in the daylight,” I said with an even more curious inflection in my voice.
Iesha smiled with her head down.
“Let’s get away from all these people. There’s a beautiful aquatic garden down this way. Come on;” Iesha said as she walked toward the water garden, taking off her sandals. We stood at an obviously awkward silence, just listening to the tiny ripples over the rocks in the falls. Sometimes silence can speak louder than a thousand screaming voices.
“Iesha, have you ever been in love? I mean, really in love; so much in love that you could see the sun rise and set in someone else’s eyes? Have you ever met a man that makes you melt every time he walks into the room? Or a man that takes a part of you with him every time he leaves? Have you ever met a man that filled your heart with more love than you could possibly imagine?” I asked.
“Damn! Look at you gettin’ all mushy and shit.” “No Rayqelle I haven’t. But it doesn’t mean that I don’t want to. I’d give anything to have what you have with Chance. I may never know that kind of love. You landed a really great guy and I can’t say that’ll ever happen for me,” Iesha said as she watched the water flow against the rocks.
“Iesha... I think I may have landed more than just a great guy. I think I found my soul m
ate, and I thank God for him every day; I mean, you know all the shit I’ve been through wit’ niggas. I didn’t think it was a good man out there to be found until now. But I had to change. I had to start lookin’ at myself differently, and I also had to start seeing myself as more than just something to be bought or sold. I had to also stop looking at what I could get out of a nigga; like if he didn’t have this or that. You know me, I wasn’t fuckin’ wit him. Look at what that got me. I ended up wit’ a nigga like Tico who flipped the script and sold me a fuckin’ fairytale that turned into a nightmare! I’m just so glad I don’t have to live like that no more, I said to Iesha.
“Yeah... I guess you have been blessed,” Iesha said softly.
“Well… what about the Congressman? It seems like he’s crazy about you. What’s that all about;" I asked Iesha, even though I already knew what it was about. It was about money, just like it always was.
“Rayqelle I don’t know, I don’t know nothin’ anymore. Sometimes I don’t know whether I’m comin’ or goin’, leavin’ or stayin’. I wish that I could find somebody who loves me for me, and that doesn’t want anything more than just to love me. Ya’ know... I watched the way Chance looked at you last night; the way he touched you was special. I laid there next to y’all after he finished fuckin’ me and listened with my eyes closed while he made love to you. He fucked me, but he made love to you. I would have given anything to be you at that moment. I mean, you have it all, a great career doin’ what you love to do, and a wonderful man that loves you. You’ve got it all and I have nothing. I don’t know, maybe I’m gettin’ really sick of sellin’ my soul and my pussy to the one with the biggest bank roll” Iesha wept.
Iesha turned away and though I couldn’t see her face I could hear the tears in her voice as she spoke. She was my girl and I could feel her soul aching. Iesha hurried to dry her falling tears, as the sound of the Congressman’s approaching footsteps against the gravel walkway grew nearer.
“Here you two are. I’ve been looking everywhere. Iesha, I want to introduce you to Senator Bob Tilson, he’s an old friend of mine. I’m sorry... am I interrupting something? Are you two alright?” The congressman asked.
“Yeah honey, everything is fine. Let’s go meet the Senator. Rayqelle are you comin’?” Iesha said as she looked into the tiny mirror on her compact to fix her make up.
“Yeah, I’ll be along in a minute. I just wanna enjoy the water for a few more minutes. Is that alright?” I asked the Congressman.
“Of course it is Rayqelle. Stay as long as you like. We’ll be inside. Come along my love” the Congressman said as he and Iesha walked away hand in hand against the pink dusk of the sun. There was a strange calm but underneath was great uncertainty.
As the festive get together came to a close, I politely thanked the Congressman for his hospitality, hugged Iesha and said I would talk to her soon. I looked over my shoulder as I walked away, I could see Iesha watching every step I took; like a puppy looking through the window at a pound. It was the most sorrowful look I had ever seen on her face, almost longing; crying out for me not leave her or maybe wishing she could go to my place. I could see Iesha through the rear view mirror as I got in the car and drove away. I watched her stand in front of the house until I was too far away to see.
Chance Encounters - Preludes to Love & Death Page 12
