A Good Man (23 page)

“Gimme a break, Aaron,” she whispered, a cameraman in an inflatable kayak a few feet away. “Let’s just swim, all right? You know, you use your hands to move you around.”

“I can’t help myself, Jazz,” he said to the camera. “You’re so touchable.”

Where are the sharks? Come get you some ham.

Sonya tried to be civil and asked Aaron what kind of fish they were seeing.

“Oh, look at that yellow one,” he would say. “That one reminds me of Tony. And that dark black one. That’s the Gary fish, isn’t it? Oh, look at that eel. That is definitely Arthur. Oh, that orange one likes me. I don’t see any fat Justin fish.”

Sonya was sorry she had asked.

After an hour of listening to Aaron name the fish and fending off Aaron’s tentacles, she climbed aboard the catamaran. She went directly to Captain Randy.

“Get us to the island,” she said. “Now.”

Though Captain Randy broke speed records getting to Avalon, a town made up of houses walking up the hills, Sonya arrived at Catalina Island sunburned, ashy, worn out, and bruised.

An oversize Jeep without a top met them at the docks.

“And now, you’re to go on a forty-mile tour of the island,” Larry said.

“Larry, there’s no top on that Jeep,” Sonya said. “I’m going to fry.”

Larry handed her some sunscreen. “It’s the best I could do.”

SPF 15. Is he kidding? I need at least SPF 50. She rubbed some sunscreen on her cheeks and shoulders anyway and put on the Windbreaker. “I’m not having a good time.”

“I know,” Larry said. “And I’m sorry.”

For the next three hours, Sonya’s stomach grumbled while they looked at “romantic” seascapes, walked across “secluded” beaches crawling with cameramen, explored “mysterious” coves littered with plastic bottles, and posed for “candid” pictures at every overlook.

As they bumped along, Aaron pointed at the sky. “Look, Jazz! That’s a bald eagle.”

“That’s a seagull, Aaron,” Sonya said.

“No, I’m sure it’s a bald eagle.”

No, fool, it’s a seagull. Bald eagles don’t hover over a Jeep looking for food, or in my case, fried flesh.

Upon returning to Avalon, the Jeep deposited them at Luau Larry’s, a “Food, Spirits, Oyster Bar.” Sonya went immediately to the bathroom to inspect the damage. My hair! It looks as if I’ve been playing ball for five hours! The red spots on my cheeks make me look like a clown. Even my eyes feel sunburned. She patted the Windbreaker, and dust plumed into the air. I am not happy. Aren’t dates supposed to at least smell good? I am so funky right now.

To top it off, Aaron put a huge straw hat on her head when she came to their table.

Sonya took it off.

“It’ll be fun,” Aaron said, straightening his matching hat.

No, it won’t.

Then she watched Aaron slurp down a dozen oysters, drink a Tazmanian Zombie, and inhale a plate of fried calamari while he watched an NFL wildcard playoff game on a TV hanging over the bar. Sonya tried several times to engage him in conversation, but Aaron was content to hoot and yell for “his” team.

Sonya picked at her Luau Salad and tried not to make eye contact with all the fake parrots inside Luau Larry’s. This is a bar that occasionally serves food. When Aaron ordered his second Tazmanian Zombie, Sonya stared at Larry.

Larry shrugged.

Sonya stood. “I’ll be waiting on the boat, Aaron.”

Aaron smiled. “Be out as soon as the game ends and I finish this drink.”

I hope you’ll be out, all the way home, Sonya thought. Drink another. Get one to go. Drink like a fish. Why not? We’re on an island, and we’re about to get on a boat. And as we roll over the waves, make sure you puke into the Pacific. It will be the perfect ending to our date.

Captain Randy seemed to sense Sonya’s fury, and he made record time back to Huntington Beach. While Aaron drank beer and told stories to the cameras about how great a basketball player he was in college, Sonya went to the stern to watch the sunset.

It’s a nice sunset, God, she thought, but Aaron is definitely not the man I want to share it with. Ever.

Unfortunately, Aaron didn’t vomit over the side of the Gecko Gecko.

Fortunately, Aaron dozed on his side of the limo on the way back.

Unfortunately, he woke once the limo stopped in the mansion’s driveway.

“How ’bout we hit that hot tub, Ma,” he said lazily.

Sonya got a contact buzz from Aaron’s breath. “No. I’m going to sleep now.”

Aaron reached for her, but she stepped out of the limo and was up the driveway before he could stumble out after her. She opened the front door and had almost closed it when Aaron’s head popped in.

I’ve seen this scene before in The Shining. I will have nightmares.

“How ’bout a good night kiss, Ma?” Aaron lurched forward and swooped in for a kiss, his eyes closed and his lips pursed.

Sonya leaned back, and Aaron almost kissed the fronds of a potted plant.

“Good night, Aaron.”

Aaron opened his eyes. “I’ll walk you up,” he said to the potted plant.

A cameraman struggled through the doorway and froze just behind Aaron.

And now to finish this night in style. “I don’t need you to walk me up, Aaron.” She snapped her fingers several times.

Aaron wheeled from the plant to face her. “Huh?”

“In fact, Aaron, I don’t need you to do anything for me, because the entire day wasn’t about me at all, was it?”

Aaron blinked several times. “What you mean? Didn’t you have a good time? I had a good time.”

Sonya sighed. “Exactly. You had a good time.” She pointed to the great room where the rest of the Crew was watching another football game. “Go catch the rest of that game, because, man, you don’t have any game.”

The cameraman gave her a thumbs-up.

Sonya smiled.

Aaron staggered into the great room.

Someone called to Aaron, “Yo, what up, dog?”

That man isn’t a dog, Sonya thought. That man is a dogfish.

As soon as she was safely in her room, Sonya called Kim.

No answer. No one wants to talk to me tonight.

“Kim, when you get this message, give me a call. I don’t care how late it is. I want to tell you about my date from the lowest depths of hell. Be safe. Bye.”

But maybe John will be awake early. Yeah. John will be awake, and I can tell him all about my evil date.

She took a cool shower, didn’t scrub her shoulders or cheeks too hard with the washcloth, put on her sweats, set her alarm for 4 AM, hit her pillow, and winced. Ow.

After lightly rubbing her shoulders and cheeks with lotion, she tried again to sleep.

Foot cramp … ow, ow, ow, ow.

She grabbed her big toe until the cramp subsided.

She tried calling Kim again and got no answer.

Where is she?

After tossing and turning for most of the night, she woke at four and slipped down the stairs and into a dark great room.

No John to talk to. Maybe he’s getting used to the time change.

At 6 AM, she dressed in her sweats and running shoes and walked gingerly out to the driveway.

Still no John. Guess he’s not running today.

She frowned at the clouds muddying up the sunrise.

Man, I can’t get a break today.

John woke early, took a shower, and was shaving when Justin came in yawning.

“Yo, Artie, you gotta learn to sleep in,” Justin said.

“Going to church,” John said. “There’s an AME over in Oxnard. Interested?”

“Yeah.” Justin leaned out and looked at Aaron. “Aaron is out cold, man. Think he’ll go with us?”

Let him sleep or annoy him? John thought. Everyone needs Jesus. “I’ll try to wake him. Go see if anyone else wants to go.”

“All right,” Justin said, and he left the room humming, “God’s Got a Blessing.”

I knew Justin was AME, John thought. Just something about the way he looks at life.

John gently shook the foot of Aaron’s bed. “Aaron.”

Aaron turned his head from his pillow. “What?”

“You up for going to church? A couple of us are going.”

Aaron squinted. “Jazz goin’?”

I hope so. “Don’t know.”

“Nah, I’m good.”

Um, no … I don’t think you are. And you talk in your sleep, man. John put on his best gray suit, really the last suit he owned that didn’t have tears or pulls in the fabric, and while Justin got ready, he went into the kitchen, popped some bread in a toaster, and started a pot of coffee. He read several Psalms and munched on some toast and jam until Gary, Tony, and Justin came in.

Whoa, John thought. These guys should do commercials for suits and Stacy Adams. What’s my problem? Oh, yeah. New Hope frowns on any suit color that isn’t black, white, or gray. “Y’all preachin’ today?” he asked.

Justin laughed. “Gotta look good for the ladies in the choir.” He wore a mustard yellow suit, mustard yellow shirt, and matching mustard yellow tie. “Think I’m overdoin’ it?”

“Nah,” Tony said. He smoothed his gray tie and buttoned his black jacket. “Mustard yellow doesn’t stand out at all.” He looked at Gary. “Now Gary, here.” He smiled. “Man, I don’t know if you’re a Vegas lounge singer or a traveling tent preacher.”

Gary spun around, his crushed blue velvet suit sparkling. “I’m a little of both. C’mon. Don’t want to be late.”

When they walked down the driveway to the limo, the driver folded his newspaper and opened the back door. “Where to, gentlemen?”

“Bethel AME in Oxnard,” John said as Gary, Justin, and Tony got inside.

“Wait up!” Sonya called from the door, waving her Bible. She wore a long-sleeved white blouse, medium-length black skirt, and black flats.

And she is even more beautiful when she’s not trying to be, John thought.

Sonya caught up. “You look good,” she said.

Not really. “So do you.”

She smiled. “Where are we going?”

“Bethel AME over in Oxnard,” John said.

“And you were going to leave me?” she asked.

Oops. “I thought you might be sleeping in after your late date.”

She walked past John to the limo. “I never miss church.” She turned her head and squinted. “Oh no.”

John saw Bob steaming out the front door. He can’t have a problem with this, can he?

“Where are you going?” Bob asked.

Sonya stepped in front of John. “There’s no filming today, so we’re going to church.”

“Bethel AME in Oxnard,” John said. I wonder if I’ve set some sort of record for saying that.

“Church is fine,” Bob said, “and I’ve alerted First AME of LA that you’re on your way. Cameras will follow your every—”

“No,” Sonya interrupted.

Bob’s mouth shut. “No? Stevie Wonder and Obama have been to First AME. It’s a famous church. The, uh, …” He looked at John.

“Bethel AME in Oxnard.” That has to be a record.

“No one famous goes there,” Bob said.

Sonya shook her head. “We don’t go to church to be seen by anyone but God, Mr. Freeberg.”

“But a woman going to church with four men is exciting,” Bob said. “And we can be better prepared at First AME than at—”

“No, Bob.” Sonya frowned. “And don’t have a camera crew following us either. This is supposed to be a free day. Let it be free, okay?” She stepped into the limo and sat facing Tony, Justin, and Gary.

John smiled at Bob. “We’ll, um, we’ll be at the—”

“I know, I know,” Bob interrupted. He stepped closer. “This was your idea, wasn’t it?”

“Church?” John said. “Well, actually, the church began a long time ago. I believe the church began when Jesus called the first disciples, but others believe it began at Pentecost.”

Bob blinked.

“Just saying that church wasn’t my idea,” John said. “Have a blessed day, Bob.”

John got into the limo next to Sonya. “I don’t think Bob is a churchgoer.”

The limo circled the drive and was flying up Pacific Coast Highway in minutes.

“Y’all look nice,” Sonya said.

Her face is so red! “You get sunburned?” he asked.

“Yes,” Sonya said. “My shoulders hurt the most.”

I could fix them, John thought. There are aloe plants growing all around the property.

“Have a good time, Jazz?” Justin asked.

Sonya sighed. “I survived.”

Justin turned to Tony. “Told you she didn’t have a good time.”

“You heard different?” Sonya asked.

“Aaron said you two had a nice time,” Tony said, “but I didn’t believe a word he said.”

Sonya sat up straighter. “What’d he say? Wait. They got cameras in here?”

Justin nodded. “That’s how they got all our arrival pictures.”

Sonya tapped on the glass, and the driver opened the divider. “Yes?”

“You aren’t filming us, are you?” Sonya asked.

“No filming today,” he said.

Sonya closed the slider and looked directly at John. “What did Aaron say?”

She knows I would tell her the truth. “He made a few claims that none of us believed.” And all of them were sexual. Not exactly what we should be talking about on our way to church.

“Do I want to know what he said?” Sonya asked.

“The man was drunk off his ass, I mean, his butt,” Gary said.

“He was talking out his butt, too,” Justin said.

Sonya nodded and leaned forward. “Here’s the truth, though I doubt you’ll see it in any video they’ll show you. I had a lousy time. The worst part was watching Aaron flex his mermaid tattoo on the boat ride to Catalina. It was all downhill from there.”

All four men sighed and smiled, as if on cue.

“And that makes y’all happy, huh?” Sonya asked.

All four men nodded, also on cue.

“Do you think he’s any competition to you fine men dressed so sharp for church?” Sonya asked.

All four men shook their heads, John only shaking his head slightly. I don’t look fine or feel all that sharp this morning compared to Gary, Tony, and Justin.

Sonya sighed and rolled her eyes. “Let’s go get our praise on and forget yesterday.”

“Amen!” Justin shouted.

Yes, amen, John thought.

The service at Bethel AME was crowded, fun, loud, and hot. John had the misfortune of sitting between Gary and Justin in a pew built for much smaller men, and when the music swelled to a crescendo, he had to stand sideways during the singing to get some fresh air.