“I don’t want anything. I was about to visit somebody in this neighborhood when I remembered you opened a shop here. I was just going to stop by and say hey.”
“I find that hard to believe, Vernon. I didn’t tell you I was opening a shop.” Vivian then narrowed her eyes at him. “Did you do this?” she straight out asked.
Vernon took offense to the question and just looked at her a moment.
“Why the hell you ask me something like that, did I do this? I just asked you if someone had broken in.” He paused then said, “For your information you did mention you opened a shop.”
“Shouldn’t it be clear Vernon me asking if you’re responsible?” Vivian’s eyes shifted to the blood stained bandage around his hand.
“You looking at this,” he said removing his bandaged hand from his pocket. “I just had to knock a fool out,” he stated with a stoic expression.
Patricia taking everything in her eyes shifted from Vivian to Vernon.
Vivian continued with her heinous glare at him. “You know what; you better hope that those finger prints don’t come back yours.”
“What? Girl I’m trying to be nice coming over here to see if you okay and you trying to accuse me of breaking in your shop. What do I want to break in there for? But if that’s what happened, somebody broke in, you give me a few hundred dollars and I’ll find out who did it in no time.”
Patricia responded with a slight gasp at Vernon trying to charge his sister to help her. You are definitely a crack head.
“Like I just said, you better hope those finger prints don’t come back yours.”
“What needs to happen is you coming to your senses and giving me my due. I done told you some of that money you living off of belong to me and I plan on getting mine.”
“Whatever Vernon, you don’t scare me. I’m not about to play look-out for Vernon.”
“Girl I’m telling you the boogey man is real.” He moved the toothpick in his mouth with his tongue from one side to the other.
“Well, boo to you, too, Vernon.”
Vernon waved his bandaged hand down at Vivian acting unalarmed by his threat. He began walking away and back across the street.
Vivian’s next words came in a whisper to Patricia. “Walk toward the shop. I’m going to close up for a couple of days to get things back in order. Call everyone and tell them to cancel any appointments they may have for the next couple of days. If you need to, call me on my cell.”
“I’ll take care of it, Ms. Fowler. I just need to get inside to get the appointment book.”
They then both look in the direction Vernon had traveled, glad to see that he had gone about his business.
“I know they’re dusting for prints but I need to get in here,” Vivian said and opened the outer door to her shop and stepped inside. She saw one of the forensic workers walking her way. “Do you know how much longer this is going to take?” she asked him.
“We just finished up.”
“Good,” Vivian said and headed toward her office to take care of the business of getting her shop back in order. She saw that the door to her office had been kicked in and moved her head from side to side. Her first call was to a locksmith.
* * *
Later in the evening, Vivian was wearing a classy silk purple pleated skirt and jacket with a sexy lavender silk blouse underneath. Very beautiful around her neck was a string pearl necklace. On her feet were purple house slippers that she brought with her for dinner at Toni’s house.
“You certainly have a nice home,” Vivian commented, and then took a sip of red wine from her glass. “I like walking into someone’s house and it feels like home.”
Toni couldn’t help but steal glances at her. He was donned in navy blue slacks and white cotton shirt. The sleeves on his shirt were perfectly rolled back, which showed the diamond and gold Rolex watch on his wrist.
“Thanks. How’s the chili? I didn’t make it too hot did I?”
“It’s a little spicy, but is absolutely delicious. I can’t remember the last time I had homemade chili. I do remember my mother making it once.” Vivian smiled. “We both agreed that she should stick to chili in the can.”
Toni amused by her story smiled with her. “Was it that bad?” he asked and picked up his glass of wine.
“I think she failed when she tried to get creative and instead of just mixing in the ground beef she made little meatballs out of it.”
Toni had just taken a sip of his wine when his head went back in laughter. “Meatballs, are you kidding me?” He wiped at his mouth with his napkin.
“Meatballs,” she repeated still tickled too.
“That’s one for the books. You’ve got to tell me another story because your smile is infectious,” Toni said amazed at how attractive she was. “You’re gorgeous.”
Vivian dabbed at the corners of her mouth with the red cloth napkin that was sitting in her lap. “I have to say you are as equally easy on the eye Toni.”
Vivian then lifted her glass with her eyes softly on what she still felt was a mysterious man. He is almost too cute, almost feminine.
“What kind of music do you prefer?” Toni inquired, and lifted his glass for another sip of wine.
“Rhythm and Blues, I came up on that music. What about you? Do you have a preference?”
“I like a variety of music for the exception of most rap songs. If I had to pick a favorite it would be Luther Vandross.” Toni then noticed Vivian’s glass of wine was almost gone. “Would you care for a refill?”
“I think I’m going to go easy on the wine.”
“You mean I’ll be having a second glass alone,” and Toni reached for the bottle of wine in the center of the table and refilled his glass that was almost empty.
Vivian looked as if she was debating to have a second glass. Had she been at home she’d probably already be on a second glass. Vivian didn’t care for getting tipsy outside of home. It seemed to have her making decisions she wouldn’t ordinarily make sober. Nonetheless, there was something about Toni that made Vivian feel safe. One more glass and that would be the limit. “A refill it is,” she said.
After dinner they moved to the living room with glasses of wine.
“I’m going to put on some music,” Toni said and headed over to his stereo.
Toni suggested music to see where Vivian chose to sit. Her selection would in a way indicate what kind of mood she was in. If she selects the rocker that might suggest, though enjoying herself, she wasn’t ready to get too close. If she opted for the sofa she could be leaving space for Toni to join her, maybe consent to a kiss if he made a move for one.
Vivian’s choice was the sofa. Toni seeing it out the corner of his eyes beamed. He then plays music by Nancy Wilson.
“Jazz,” she grinned.
Toni walked over to the sofa and dipped his head at the empty spot next to Vivian. “Do you mind,” he said holding his wine glass in one hand.
“No, I don’t mind.” Vivian smiled some. He is certainly a gentleman. Most men would have just invaded my space.
Toni sat on the sofa and crossed one leg over the over. “You may continue,” he said.
Vivian drew back a bit. “Continue what?”
Toni was a little tickled her being puzzled. “Singing, remember...you were doing a duet with Nancy Wilson.”
Vivian tilted her head to the side. “Are you always this calm?” and reached for her wine glass, then turned inwards with it to talk.
“I guess you can say I am. It’s also easy to be when you’re in the company of someone that exudes peace. That’s not to say that I don’t have mood swings on occasion.” Toni then quickly thought, did I just say mood swings.
Mood swings Vivian looked peculiar at Toni. What man confesses to having mood swings?
Toni uncrossed his legs and set his glass of wine on the cocktail table in front of them. “What I meant was,” and he stood, extended his hand to Vivian. “If you’d do me this honor and dance with me.”
Shortly after they began to dance Toni stopped. He cupped Vivian’s face with such passion that it moved her to almost giggle at his gentleness. He then kissed her full lips.
All Vivian could say after the parting was, “Wow,” and she tilted her head to the side some to muse over how nice the kiss was. “On that note, I think I’ll have another one.”
“Are you sure? You seemed a bit reluctant to have a second glass of wine.”
“Wine, I was speaking about the kiss,” and Vivian smiled, waited for her request to be fulfilled, which immediately came.
They spent the rest of the evening talking, getting more acquainted with one another. Their time together ended just as it started, smoothly.
***
Vivian was sitting sideways on her sofa with her arms crossed talking to Jennifer.
“I’m telling you, I was nearly spellbound. The man is almost too gentle.”
She was still on cloud nine since her dinner at Toni’s house.
“The point is you had a nice time and that’s all that matters,” Jennifer replied stretched out on the floor. “So what if he’s gentle. I’ll take a gentle man over a rough one any day. It’s about time you start dating again. I’m happy for you.” Jennifer began grazing the carpet with her hand. Though she was just lounging around with her best friend, her mind was on something more serious. “I could sleep on this carpet thick and delicate as it is,” she uttered.
Darren, with Darling trailing, entered the living room with full bellies.
“There are mama’s babies. Did you two get enough to eat?” Vivian said.
Darren jumped onto the sofa and into Vivian’s lap where she began to rub him gently on the top of his head. He tucked his head deeper into her warm space. Darling rested near Vivian’s feet. She then flopped her tail as an indication she was content.
“You were right,” said Jennifer sounding a bit despondent and as if Vivian had asked her a question.
“I was right about what?”
Vivian continued to give Darren, who appeared to be falling asleep, soft rubs to the top of his white furry head.
Jennifer sat up and crossed her legs and then reached for her cup of mocha sitting on the table in front of her.
“I’m going through menopause...well my doctor described it as peri-menopause. She can prescribe something for the hot flashes and insomnia to help balance my hormones. I just refused it. If it’s menopause I’m going through, I’m just going to let nature takes it course. As far as losing my desire to be intimate, no one’s come up with a solution for that.” Jennifer got gloomier almost to the point where she was about to weep. “He’s going to cheat on me isn’t he Vi?” and a few tears slid down Jennifer’s face.
“Now what would make you say something foolish like that? What you’re going through is a part of life for women.”
Jennifer took another sip of her mocha. “It’s not that I don’t want to make love with Charles, sometimes it hurts. Actually, it’s always painful now.”
“Are you kidding me, with all the lubricants they have on the market.”
Darling rose a bit to stretch then moved closer to snuggle next to Darren in Vivian’s lap.
“Why does this have to happen to me now? I’m too young to be going through menopause.”
Vivian’s eyes rolled around her head. She was tired of her friend whining. She wasn’t sure what else she could say to help her accept menopause was just another phase in life.
Vivian then began to reflect on when her mother was going through it. The only complaint she heard was that it was always hot. Even in the middle of winter her mother would open windows in whatever room she went into. If menopause was an issue in her parents being intimate, no one knew but them.
“Girl I drifted off into my own world and forgot about my mocha,” Vivian said glancing over at a still despondent Jennifer. She stirred Darren and Darling who briefly looked up at her then went back to snuggling.
Jennifer looked sadly down in her cup. “There’s something else,” she calmly stated.
“What is it Jennifer. Just what I thought, it’s cold,” and Vivian leaned to place her cup of Mocha back on the cocktail table.
“My doctor...” tears began to run from Jennifer’s eyes and into her cup of mocha.
“Woman, what am I going to do with you?” Vivian shook her head at her friend.
“She found a lump in my breast.” Jennifer sat her cup on the end table next to her then cried hard into her palms.
“Are you serious Jennifer?” Vivian rose swiftly from the sofa startling both poodles. They leaped from the sofa to the floor and headed in the direction of their cots near the front door. Vivian knelt beside her friend and hugged her tight. “Jennifer, sweetie it’s going to be okay. When did you find out?”
“Two days ago, and when I went to see my gynecologist. She also suggested that I have a mammogram.”
“What are they going to do about it? Do they know how big the tumor is?”
“Dr. Howard wants me to have a biopsy so that a proper diagnosis is made. Vi, you know I lost my mama to breast cancer when I was ten,” and Jennifer bawled harder, which had Vivian holding her tighter and a few tears falling from her eyes.
“You’re going to be fine. Does Charles know?”
“I haven’t told him yet.”
“Well you need to. He needs to know what you’re going through.”
“I’m afraid he might leave me.”
“What would make you think that Jennifer?”
Jennifer sniffled. “He left his first wife. He said after twenty years of marriage she suddenly became moody was acting as if she didn’t want to be bothered with him. He said he tried to talk to her and she wouldn’t let him in. It’s the same thing I’m doing. He said he got fed up with her mood swings and the last time she asked for a divorce, he didn’t hesitate granting it.”
“Jennifer it’s understandable why he gave her the divorce. She didn’t want him anymore. You never said you didn’t want Charles anymore. I don’t think he feels that you don’t either.”
“What if this lump is found to be malignant?” Jennifer placed her hand over her right breast. “If I have breast cancer I’m going to have my breast removed. I’m going to have a mastectomy.”
“Jennifer you’re jumping to conclusions. Nothing has been confirmed. You need to keep a positive attitude.”
“I’m trying to. It’s hard Vi,” and a now disconsolate Jennifer removed herself from her friend and the floor. “I’m going to head on home.”
“Jen you call me if you need anything,” Vivian said rising, too. “Give me a hug.”
Jennifer with her arms wrapped around her leaned into her friends shoulder. “You are truly a good friend. If I wasn’t married to Charles you’d be my wife.”
“You’re a great friend too. As far as being your wife, forget it. As the old saying goes, my name is Eve and I’m looking for Steve.” They shared a laugh. “Tell Charles, Jennifer,” a serious Vivian said narrowing her eyes at her.
Jennifer nodded her head, okay.
***
A few days later Vivian pulled up in front of her salon. She headed to the café next to her shop.
After exiting the café with a cup of coffee, and for no particular reason, Vivian looked across the street and saw her brother watching her. Though she was a little startled she acted as if she hadn’t spotted him and kept her stride walking to her shop.
“Morning ladies,” she said with a bit of swagger in her step.
Vivian was donned in a black satin dress that stopped just above her knees. There was a gold-colored belt around her waist. Her black handbag was snuggled underneath her armpit as she sashayed toward her office in gold colored open-toe heels. She inconspicuously made eye contact with Patricia and after reaching her office placed her right hand flat against the door. It was a signal to Patricia
to come see her in five minutes.
Today that exchange was caught by Regina as it usually was when she was in the area tending to a client. Regina envied the relationship Patricia and her boss shared as she watched Vivian going into her office. They get on my nerves with all their secret codes. All she had to say was Patricia can I see you in five minutes.
“I’ll be back in a minute,” Patricia uttered to her client who nodded okay.
“Where is she?” Vivian took a seat at her desk and began removing her heels and slipped into her Reeboks.
“I’m not sure Ms. Fowler. She called earlier and said she won’t be able to make it in. She didn’t go in to detail.”
Vivian opened the bottom drawer of her desk. She removed an eight by ten sign from it. “Display this,” she said and held it out for Patricia to take.
Patricia wasn’t shocked after reading STYLIST WANTED on the sign, but she was a bit surprised.
“I’ll put it in the window now, Ms. Fowler. Is there anything else you need me to do?”
“That will be all. Thanks Patricia,” and Vivian closed the desk drawer then flipped open the lid to her rolodex. She then dialed a number using the phone on her desk.
“Hey,” Vivian grinned. “I just wanted to touch bases before you got your day started. I wanted to say again that I really enjoyed myself the other day. It’s been a while since I let my hair down and had some fun.”
“Likewise, for the exception of letting my hair down, I had fun, too,” Toni said, smiling and sliding his entry card into the slot to access the hospital’s parking garage.
Toni actually got lucky today. There were three spaces left. He didn’t use the garage often because parking was on a first come first serve bases.
“Is there a chance we can have dinner tonight. I know a great spot.” Toni said.
“Sure, why not,” Vivian answered with a slight blush.
“I can pick you up or we can meet there?”
“Let’s meet there,” and Vivian then heard what sounded like a loud crash of some sort. “What in the world...”
Everyone in the salon had stopped what they were doing and shocked was looking at the brick that crashed through the pane window.
Trickery & Envy Page 4
