Uh-oh.
“What about Plan B?” I pressed.
He started walking toward the door. “Let’s just hope Plan A works.”
Wonderful.
We al got into Al y’s brand-new Mustang convertible, Indy, Tex, Al y and me, and rol ed out to Lakewood. Al y parked outside Bear’s house and we barely cleared the Mustang when Bear appeared at the door, turned and careful y closed it. He met us halfway down the walk.
“I haven’t seen your Dad,” Bear said by way of greeting.
Not good.
“Bear…” I started but then the door opened and Lavonne appeared.
Lavonne dyed her bobbed hair an ultra-fake-looking black. Her roots were steel-gray, she was two inches shorter than me and at least thirty pounds lighter, if not more. She was petite, wiry and had a two pack a day smoker’s voice.
“What’s goin’ on out here? Jet! Ohmigod! Look at your hair. It looks great!”
She rushed forward, always a bundle of energy, and gave me a tight hug.
“It’s been too long,” she said and then her pleasure at seeing me started to dissolve as she looked around, took in Indy, Al y and especial y Tex. Everyone stared at Tex. Tex was a sight to see.
Then her gaze settled on Bear.
“What’s goin’ on?” she asked again, reading the situation like only a mother, or the wife of Bear, would.
“Nothin’,” Bear said.
“I’m lookin’ for Dad,” I said at the same time.
Lavonne looked at me.
“Your Dad was here just this morning. Hasn’t he been to see you?”
I looked at Indy. Indy looked at Al y. Al y looked at Tex.
Tex looked at me.
“What’s goin’ on?” Lavonne asked for the third time.
“Can we come inside?” I said.
Lavonne’s mouth tightened, she turned and we al fol owed her inside.
The inside of Lavonne and Bear’s house could not have been more different from the outside. Lavonne had strict rules about what was a woman’s domain and what was a man’s. The man tended the yard, garbage and car. The woman tended the house, food and laundry.
Lavonne’s living room was neat and tidy and overly decorated in hearts. There were bent twig hearts on the wal s tucked with dried flowers, heart wreaths, little painted-wooden hearts, heart toss pil ows on the couch, heart frames fil ed with pictures of her kids.
I did a round of introductions, Bear sat on the sofa, Indy and Al y took armchairs and I stayed standing. Tex positioned himself close to me, like a guard. Lavonne stood by Bear and lit a cigarette.
Everyone listened to my latest tale of woe.
Then Lavonne’s hand streaked out and she flicked Bear upside the head using her middle finger propel ed by her thumb.
“Yo woman!” Bear yel ed, arching away from her.
Lavonne turned to me and said, “Ray’s been stayin’ here the last two nights. I didn’t know any of this was goin’ on.” Lavonne’s tone said Lavonne was pretty unhappy.