might not be practical. Where the reception will be . . . photographer . . . music . . .”
Rosa Lee saved me from going on and on. “Getting married is more than a notion.”
After that, Rosa Lee had to hurry and get a seat before the last show of the morning sold out. Vince waved adios to the tall one, then kissed Rosa Lee again, right on the lips.
My soul was in this weird place. A very unspiritual place. Where a woman has to be cautious and confrontational about things.
I said, “Sweetie?”
“Uh-huh.”
“What kind of relationship did you have with Malaika?”
“Love at first sight, competition, conquest, contempt.”
“Sounds like a very unhappy ending. When did you go out with her?”
“Years ago.”
“She go here?”
“Nah. She doesn’t go to church here.”
“Where’s she now?”
“Married. Last I heard, she was living overseas.”
That made my sun brighter. But not bright enough.
He paused, turned, and stared at the huge brick church. He wanted to say something but didn’t.
I should’ve let it ride away on the soft cool breeze. But my soul still wasn’t satisfied.
In the car I asked, “Did you used to date Rosa Lee?”
“Nope.”
“You kissed her on her mouth.”
“Oh, is this your jealous side?”
“Not jealous, just, as the pastor would say, heedful. If you saw me go lip-to-lip with a man you didn’t know, a good-looking brother that you hadn’t been introduced to, then looked guilty when I saw you—”
“I didn’t look guilty.”
“Of course you didn’t. If you saw me locking lips with a brother, I don’t think you’d run out in the streets and start tap-dancing.”
“Dana, all of us have been ace boon coon since high school. Me and her husband, Womack, have been hanging tight since elementary school.”
He drove up Adams to Crenshaw, the Mostly Mexican part of town, made a left and went to Rodeo and made a right, the black side of L.A., headed back toward Culver City, where white people ruled the yard. The scenery changed, but my thoughts remained the same. A nerve had been struck. Reminded me of how I felt left out of my daddy’s prosperous life.
As he passed the guard shack and headed toward the man-made lake on the edge of my complex, I said, “Sweetie?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Don’t you think it’s time I met all of your friends? These peeps will be getting invitations to our wedding, right?”
He nodded but didn’t say anything as he pulled over in front of the door to my three-story building. Building 9000. Separated from Overland Boulevard by a wall that a midget could jump over.
I asked, “Why don’t you set something up? Nothing big. We could meet for coffee, or I could cook and we could kick back and play dominoes.”
Again, he nodded.
I wished I hadn’t spoken my mind, especially when I realized my mind was dipping in a well of memories, taking me to a place I was trying to leave.
After we kissed a few times, I asked, “You coming over later?”
“I can.”
“I’ll throw a lil’ sumthin’-sumthin’ together for dinner.”
“Okay. Yeah. I’ll be back after I do my laundry.”
“You okay?”
“I’m fine. Why?”
“Your mood is kinda funky. You’re so quiet.”
“I’m cool. See ya in a little bit.”
We kissed again, short and sweet, then Vince left.
I went upstairs, undressed, checked my messages.
I had a verbal note from my landlord: she had put her condo on the market. A slap in my face. She knew I was an agent. White people stick together like . . . hell, like Asians do.
The next message was from Gerri. She was supposed to have met us at church this morning. That was the third time in two months she’d pulled a no-call, no-show on me. I wasn’t mad at her, though. She’d probably worked late last night. Child support was delinquent and she was impatient, working two jobs to keep it all together. And she had to go to that late-night paper route again tonight. A risky gig that not too many people knew about.
Being a single parent ain’t no joke.
I thought about zooming over to Lula Washington’s and hop in a dance class, but since it was gloomy and I was lethargic, I took advantage of the mood. I lit candles, turned on the music, turned on the shower, closed the door so the hot water could steam up the room, made it my own private sauna. The moment I stepped in, the phone rang.
Vince or Gerri, had to be one of them.
I held my breasts, hurried, dove across my bed and grabbed the cordless phone before